Editing Distributive justice (section)

{{Short description|Concept relating to distribution of rewards to group members}}

'''Distributive justice''' concerns the [[Social justice|socially just]] [[Resource allocation|allocation of resources]], goods, opportunity in a society. It is concerned with how to allocate resources fairly among members of a society, taking into account factors such as wealth, income, and social status. Often contrasted with [[procedural justice|just process]] and [[Equal opportunity|formal equal opportunity]], distributive justice concentrates on outcomes ([[substantive equality]]). This subject has been given considerable attention in [[philosophy]] and the [[social science]]s. Theorists have developed widely different conceptions of distributive justice. These have contributed to debates around the arrangement of social, political and economic institutions to promote the just distribution of benefits and burdens within a society. Most contemporary theories of distributive justice rest on the precondition of material scarcity. From that precondition arises the need for principles to resolve competing interest and claims concerning a just or at least morally preferable distribution of scarce resources.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Olsaretti |first1=Serena |editor-first1=Serena |editor-last1=Olsaretti |title=The Oxford Handbook of Distributive Justice |date=2018 |publisher=Oxford University Press |pages=1–3 |doi=10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199645121.001.0001 |isbn=978-0-19-964512-1 |url=https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199645121.001.0001}}</ref>

In [[social psychology]], distributive justice is defined as perceived fairness of how rewards and costs are shared by (distributed across) group members.<ref name="Forsyth" /> For example, when some workers work more hours but receive the same pay, group members may feel that distributive justice has not occurred. To determine whether distributive justice has taken place, individuals often turn to the [[social norm|behavioral expectations]] of their group.<ref name="Forsyth">[[Donelson R. Forsyth|Forsyth, Donelson R.]] 2006. "Conflict." pp. 388–389 in ''Group Dynamics'' (5th ed.), by D. R. Forsyth. Belmont, CA: [[Wadsworth Cengage Learning]].</ref> If rewards and costs are allocated according to the designated distributive norms of the group, distributive justice has occurred.<ref>Deutsch, M. 1975. "Equity, equality, and need: What determines which value will be used as the basis of distributive justice?." ''[[Journal of Social Issues]]'' 31:137–149.</ref>