Inequalities, social justice and the web of social interactions

Marc Fleurbaey

Abstract

Empirical analyses of inequality generally focus on resources, whereas philosophical theories of justice are divided between those that focus on resources and opportunities on the one hand, and those that focus on social relations, on the other hand. This paper proposes a model of society that embeds both resources and social relations into a web of social interactions that determines how people flourish or struggle in life. This model suggests rethinking the analysis of inequalities and social justice, especially with the possibility of identifying trade-offs and synergies between the different components of the social web.

JEL Codes: D61, D83.

Tags: Social interactions, Social relations, Inequalities, Social justice, Egalitarianism

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