privatization
is the granting of individual property rights over previously communally owned or unowned resources. Efficiency-based arguments and justice-based arguments are given in its favour. The least plausible justice-based argument is from the right to property, since many theorists today agree that distribution of property rights should be derived from principles of justice, rather than vice versa. Justice-based arguments for privatizing communal resources, such as service-providing institutions, focus on personal responsibility and increases in freedom of choice which come with competition by providers on a market. It is not clear, however, that all goods allocation should be responsive to individual preferences. Informed choices about education and health care are limited by lack of expertise of precisely the kind sought. Furthermore, even if markets hold individuals responsible for their market choices, those choices are themselves limited by the market advantages and disadvantages that individuals start with. It is also not clear that individuals should be held accountable for all their choices. A moral duty of assistance requires helping those not in a position to help themselves, even if they once were.... ...
Access to the complete content on Oxford Reference requires a subscription or purchase. Public users are able to search the site and view the abstracts and keywords for each book and chapter without a subscription.
Please subscribe or login to access full text content.
If you have purchased a print title that contains an access token, please see the token for information about how to register your code.
For questions on access or troubleshooting, please check our FAQs, and if you can''t find the answer there, please contact us.
