Redistributive justice

Redistributive Justice is a term used to describe the equalization of property and wealth ownership by direct political fiat. It includes taxation designed to move wealth from one group to another, "land reform" and other means to promote "equality of result" over "equality of opportunity". It is frequently associated with Marxism, socialism, or the transition from aristocracy or other form of oligarchy to more broadly based governments.

Of course the term justice is relative in this regard as to the beneficary of the redistribution verses the donor/s and may not reflect concepts of social justice. The source of the wealth to be redistributed is therefore an important component of the actual justice of the redistribution. Whether the donation is voluntary or being co-opted by force is a key determination of justice. The use this term is often used when the justice of the wealth redistribution is justified on utilitarian grounds and when these grounds are used to over-ride individual rights and property rights.

We should distinguish between distributive and redistributive systems. Distributive justice is where the government has an income or an asset that it owns (eg oil reserves) and it distributes the wealth as it sees fit to its conception of just. Redistributive justice is exercised by Government through taxation or expropriation of property. Redistributive justice removes wealth from some members of society under the governments juristiction through governmental powers to the benefit of others that the government determines as in need or deserving.