I. Introduction

This essay examines how the inequality of wealth and income may infringe upon the principles of justice as fairness in a Rawlsian framework and how the principles of justice as fairness can be the basis to redress inequality of wealth and income. It argues that infringement of the principles of justice as fairness deepens inequality, and compliance with the principles of justice reduces inequality. It questions the claim made by Piketty in Capital in the Twenty-First Century (“Capital”) that the driving force for inequality is r > g, i.e., rate of returns on capital (r) is greater than the rate of growth of income (g). Accordingly, this essay contends that the primary remedy for inequality is not a global wealth tax to reduce the wealth of the super-rich, as Piketty proposes, but rather compliance with the principles of justice as fairness to improve the conditions of the super-poor.

For the principles of justice as fairness, this essay adopts a version that transforms the two Rawlsian principles of justice as fairness and the difference principle into three simply stated principles. The three simply stated principles are listed in order of priority: First, each person is to enjoy equal basic liberties; second, each person is to enjoy equal access to social and economic opportunities that are open to all; and third, the least advantaged should have priority to benefit from social resources. ¹ For the rest of the essay, these three simply stated principles are referred to as the three principles of justice as fairness.