Distributive Justice
The Right and Wrong of Our Present Distribution of Wealth
Author: John A. (John Augustine) Ryan


국가의 경제정책에서 부의분배정책에서 잘잘못에 대해서 쓴책임.
PREFACE
Five of the nine members of the late Federal Commission on Industrial Relations
united in the declaration that the first cause of industrial unrest is, "unjust
distribution of wealth and income." In all probability this judgment is shared by
the majority of the American people. Regarding the precise nature and extent of
the injustice, however, there is no such preponderance of opinion. Even the
makers of ethical and economic treatises fail to give us anything like uniform or
definite pronouncements concerning the moral defects of the present
distribution. While the Socialists and the Single Taxers are sufficiently positive
in their statements, they form only a small portion of the total population, and
include only an insignificant fraction of the recognised authorities on either
ethics or economics.
The volume in hand represents an attempt to discuss systematically and
comprehensively the justice of the processes by which the product of industry
is distributed. Inasmuch as the product is actually apportioned among
landowners, capitalists, business men, and labourers, the moral aspects of the
distribution are studied with reference to these four classes. While their rights
and obligations form the main subject of the book, the effort is also made to
propose reforms that would remove the principal defects of the present system
and bring about a larger measure of justice.
Many treatises have been written concerning the morality of one or other
element or section of the distributive process; for example, wages, interest,
monopoly, the land question; but, so far as the author knows, no attempt has
[ viii] hitherto been made to discuss the moral aspects of the entire process in
all its parts. At least, no such task has been undertaken by any one who
believes that the existing economic system is not inherently unjust. That the
present essay in this field falls far short of adequate achievement the author
fully realises, but he is sustained by the hope that it will provoke discussion,
and move some more competent person to till the same field in a more
thorough and fruitful way.
JOHN A. RYAN.
The Catholic University of America,
Washington, D. C., June 14, 1916.

CONTENTS
PREFACE vii
INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER: The Elements and Scope of the Problem xiii
General References xvii
SECTION I
THE MORALITY OF PRIVATE LANDOWNERSHIP AND RENT
CHAPTER PAGE
I THE LANDOWNER'S SHARE OF THE NATIONAL PRODUCT 3
II LANDOWNERSHIP IN HISTORY 8
III THE ARGUMENTS AGAINST PRIVATE LANDOWNERSHIP 19
IV PRIVATE OWNERSHIP THE BEST SYSTEM OF LAND TENURE 48
V PRIVATE LANDOWNERSHIP A NATURAL RIGHT 56
VI LIMITATIONS OF THE LANDOWNER'S RIGHT TO RENT 67
VII DEFECTS OF THE EXISTING LAND SYSTEM 74
VIII METHODS OF REFORMING OUR LAND SYSTEM 94
SECTION II
THE MORALITY OF PRIVATE CAPITAL AND INTEREST
IX THE NATURE AND THE RATE OF INTEREST 137
X
THE ALLEGED RIGHT OF LABOUR TO THE ENTIRE PRODUCT OF
INDUSTRY 145
XI THE SOCIALIST SCHEME OF INDUSTRY 152
XII ALLEGED INTRINSIC JUSTIFICATIONS OF INTEREST 171
XIII SOCIAL AND PRESUMPTIVE JUSTIFICATIONS OF INTEREST 187
XIV CO- OPERATION A PARTIAL SOLVENT OF CAPITALISM 210
SECTION III
THE MORAL ASPECT OF PROFITS
XV THE NATURE OF PROFITS 237
XVI THE PRINCIPAL CANONS OF DISTRIBUTIVE JUSTICE 243

XVII JUST PROFITS IN CONDITIONS OF COMPETITION 254
XVIII THE MORAL ASPECT OF MONOPOLY 262
XIX THE MORAL ASPECTS OF STOCKWATERING 279
XX THE LEGAL LIMITATION OF FORTUNES 291
XXI THE DUTY OF DISTRIBUTING SUPERFLUOUS WEALTH 303
SECTION IV
THE MORAL ASPECTS OF WAGES
XXII SOME UNACCEPTABLE THEORIES OF WAGE- JUSTICE 323
II Exchange- Equivalence Theories 326
III Productivity Theories 340
XXIII THE MINIMUM OF JUSTICE; A LIVING WAGE 356
XXIV THE PROBLEM OF COMPLETE WAGE JUSTICE 381
XXV METHODS OF INCREASING WAGES 400
XXVI SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 426
INDEX 435