Dead Ends and Living Currents: Distributism as a Progressive Research Program

Abstract

Distributism, a social program most closely associated with Catholic social teaching, calls for widespread and decentralized property ownership. Much in distributist thought, when considered in light of standard price theory, is simply untenable. But there is also much in distributist thought that is interesting and viable. We discuss the aspects of distributism best discarded, and the aspects that can serve as the foundation for a progressive research program.

Keywords: Catholic social teaching, distributism, price theory, property rights

JEL Classification: A13, B53, P16, Z12