Toward a Theory of a Just Savings Principle

Ngo Long

Chapter 15 in Intergenerational Equity and Sustainability, 2007, pp 291-319 from Palgrave Macmillan

Abstract: Abstract The question of intergenerational equity has troubled many philosophers, economists and scientists concerned with social issues. Environmentalists have argued that the modern economies are destroying the environment and reducing biodiversity, at the expense of future generations. At the other pole, Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) found it disconcerting that earlier generations should carry the burdens for the benefits of later generations.1 In a similar vein, John Rawls expressed the opinion that ‘the utilitarian doctrine may direct us to demand heavy sacrifices of the poorer generations for the sake of greater advantages for later ones that are far better off. (…) Even if we cannot define a precise just savings principle, we should be able to avoid this sort of extremes.’2

Keywords: Capital Stock; Difference Principle; Contracting Parti; Intergenerational Equity; Basic Liberty (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2007
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pal:intecp:978-0-230-23676-9_15

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DOI: 10.1057/9780230236769_15

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