SOCIAL SECURITY, SOCIAL INSURANCE, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
In: Public affairs quarterly: PAQ, Band 12, Heft 2, S. 179-202
ISSN: 0887-0373
THE AUTHOR DEVELOPS A RAWLSIAN ANALYSIS OF THE UNITED STATES' EXISTING SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAM. AFTER A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM, HE DISCUSSES RAWLS'S ARGUMENTS THAT AN IDEALLY JUST INDUSTRIALIZED SOCIETY WOULD INCLUDE, AMONG ITS BASIC INSTITUTIONS, A UNIVERSAL NONCONTRIBUTORY SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAM. THEN HE DEVELOPS A VARIETY OF QUASI-RAWLSIAN ARGUMENTS FOR A SOCIAL INSURANCE PROGRAM. FINALLY, HE USES THESE ARGUMENTS TO CRITICALLY EVALUATE THE CURRENT AMERICAN SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAM AND SOME PROPOSED REFORMS.