Abstract
The monograph deals with the issue of legitimacy of government enforced progressive vertical redistribution from the perspective of justice, utility, efficiency, and freedom. The conclusion is that given capitalism as it exists today, increasing the rate of progressive vertical redistribution can positively affect all of these.
The argument provides an overview of the long-standing debate addressed by mayor economists and political theorists. Special consideration is given to arguments by Bentham, F.
Y. Edgeworth, Marshall, Pigou, Robbins, Lerner, J.
B. Clark, H.
D. Dickinson, Hayek, Okun, Friedman, Nozick, Sen and G.
A. Cohen.
Historical arguments are assessed on their own merit and in the light of contemporary empirical evidence.