Table Of ContentOn Kolm’s Theory of Macrojustice
•
Claude Gamel (cid:129) Michel Lubrano
Editors
On Kolm’s Theory
of Macrojustice
A Pluridisciplinary Forum
of Exchange
123
Editors
ProfessorClaudeGamel ProfessorMichelLubrano
GREQAM-IDEP GREQAM-CNRS
UniversitéPaulCézanne CentredelaVieilleCharité
CentreForbin 2ruedelaCharité
15-19,alléeClaudeForbin 13236MarseilleCedex02
13627Aix-en-Provence Cedex 1 France
France [email protected]
[email protected]
ISBN978-3-540-78376-3 e-ISBN978-3-540-78377-0
DOI10.1007/978-3-540-78377-0
SpringerHeidelbergDordrechtLondonNewYork
LibraryofCongressControlNumber:2010937679
(cid:2)c Springer-VerlagBerlinHeidelberg2011
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“Discourse ethics rests on the intuition that the application of
the principle of universalization, properly understood, calls for
a joint process of “ideal role taking”.[.....] Under the pragmatic
presuppositions of an inclusive and non-coercive rational dis-
course among free and equal participants, everyone is required
totaketheperspective ofeveryone else,andthusprojects herself
into the understandings of self and world of all others; from this
interlocking of perspectives there emerges an ideally extended
we-perspective from which all can test in common whether they
wish to make a controversial norm the basis of their shared
practice;andthisshouldincludemutualcriticismoftheappropri-
ateness of the languages in terms of which situations and needs
areinterpreted. Inthe course ofsuccessively undertaken abstrac-
tions, thecore ofgeneralizable interests canthen emerge step by
step.”
JürgenHabermas(1995).Reconciliationthroughthepub-
licuseofreason:RemarksonJohnRawls’spoliticalliber-
alism.TheJournalofPhilosophy92(3),pp.109–131.
•
Foreword
This is a book about both economics and philosophy. It should be read
by both economists and philosophers. As Serge-Christophe Kolm himself
writes on page 38, “the association of economics and philosophy ... is not
only a laudable (and probably too rare) aspect of scholarship: it is ... sim-
ply unavoidable for making sense and progress”. Indeed, he argues that we
shouldmakenodistinction betweenthetwofields.
This isa book about a book: Kolm’s Macrojustice, published in 2005. In
philosophy, it is common for there to be books about books. In economics,
itisrare.Inpart,thisisbecauseeconomists writebookslessfrequently, and
books play a smaller role in the economics profession. This is, in my view,
much to be regretted. Original ideas in economics today are communicated
scientificallythroughpeer-reviewedjournalarticles.Thisisinmanyrespects
an admirable format, but in myview it has serious limitations. Theanalysis
hastobepresented inacircumscribed form,oftenwithoutafullexploration
of the underlying assumptions. Within the compass of an article, it is not
usuallypossibletodrawouttheinter-connections withotherbranchesofthe
literature orwithotherdisciplines.
Inwritingabook,anauthorhasboththeopportunityandthechallengeof
presenting ideas onabroader canvas. Thischallenge isone to whichSerge-
Christophe Kolm and the authors of this volume have risen magnificently.
Macrojustice isatour de force, giving centre place tothe concept of “equal
labour income equalization” (first developed by Kolm many years ago) and
demonstrating its power and reach. The present volume brings together the
authorofMacrojusticeandsomeofits“firstandmostattentivereaders”ina
highlyproductive interchange, whichisessential complementary reading.
In part, the absence of this kind of volume in economics reflects the
fact that today’s economists are less likely to read books. This brings me
to a central issue. I have said that the book should be read by economists,
but how can this be ensured? It is not just the format but also the sub-
ject matter that is unfashionable. As an undergraduate, I studied courses on
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viii Foreword
“welfare economics”, whose dull treatment of issues such as compensation
tests would have been greatly enlivened by the present volume. But these
coursesarenolongertaught,andtheideaofeconomicsasa“moralscience”
has been lost from sight. Allthat I can say is that the present volume offers
awonderfulantidote. EverystudentshouldberequiredtoreadtheIntroduc-
tion. Theywill then be convinced as to whyweshould debate the theory of
macrojustice.
TonyAtkinson
NuffieldCollege
OxfordandLondonSchoolofEconomics
Contents
1 Why Should We Debate the Theory
ofMacrojustice? ...................................................... 1
ClaudeGamelandMichelLubrano
PartI TheMacrojustice ofSerge-ChristopheKolm
2 GeneralPresentation................................................. 35
Serge-Christophe Kolm
3 Economic Macrojustice: Fair Optimum Income
Distribution,TaxationandTransfers .............................. 69
Serge-Christophe Kolm
PartII PhilosophicalAspectsofMacrojustice
4 ELIE and the Emotions Related to Social
Recognition............................................................133
PierreLivet
5 Basic Income and ELIE Transfers: Argument
forCompatibilityDespiteDivergence ..............................145
ClaudeGamel
PartIII EconomicAnalysisofMacrojustice
6 AnAxiomaticStudyoftheELIEAllocation Rule ................189
FrançoisManiquet
7 AnExplorationofIncentive-CompatibleELIE...................207
LaurentSimulaandAlainTrannoy
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