Obligations of Privilege

Abstract:     
Little attention is paid to the nature of the high incomes of the rich or to the legal or norm-based obligations the rich owe society. This popular and scholarly inattention reflects the general acceptance of the idea that the rich have earned their high incomes and owe society little. By looking at income equations revealing society's role in high incomes and the obligations of the rich, the Article urges a strengthening of the obligations of the rich and rejects the argument that the legal community ought not consider the moral demands associated with high incomes.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 54

Keywords: Obligations, Poverty, Income, Duty of Rescue, Wealthy, Privilege, Progressive Taxation

JEL Classification: K11, D31, D63, E24, I30, J30, N30

Accepted Paper Series