The dichotomy of procedural and distributive justice in the theory of social choice

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the article is to provide critical analysis regarding the application of distributive justice in the theory of social choice. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research combines the elements of critical analysis and synthesis utilizing a rich scope of inter-disciplinary evidence. Findings: Distributive justice serves as the dominant concept in economics, at the same time being hardly competitive with the principles of social sustainability. Practical Implications: Social choice framework should incorporate "justice of procedure", relying more on the fairness of processes governing social resources distribution. Originality/Value: The proposed paper re-discovers and examines the application of procedural justice in the field of social choice, while distributive justice remains the dominant principle in economics.