Intergenerational EquityIntergenerational Equity&&

Social Justice ConceptsSocial Justice Concepts

RD300RD300

19 September 200119 September 2001

Intergenerational EquityIntergenerational Equity

Concept deals with the fairness of Concept deals with the fairness of imposing risks and costs (e.g. imposing risks and costs (e.g. reduced natural resources) on reduced natural resources) on future generations.future generations.

Issues such as climate change and Issues such as climate change and nuclear waste disposal.nuclear waste disposal.

Within the literature there is general Within the literature there is general agreement that present generations agreement that present generations have obligations to future generations.have obligations to future generations.

However, there is considerable debate However, there is considerable debate about the basis or specifics of such about the basis or specifics of such obligations.obligations.

Should we be talking about Should we be talking about intergenerational ‘rights’ rather than intergenerational ‘rights’ rather than ‘obligations?‘obligations?

Do rights convey greater moral Do rights convey greater moral authority? Legal rights?authority? Legal rights?

Do we have a duty of justice to future Do we have a duty of justice to future generations?generations?

Barry’s (1978) equates justice with Barry’s (1978) equates justice with equal opportunity. He contends that the equal opportunity. He contends that the overall range of opportunities open to overall range of opportunities open to successor generations should not be successor generations should not be narrowed.narrowed.

Page (1983) argues that …if the present Page (1983) argues that …if the present generation provides a resource base generation provides a resource base essentially the same as it inherited essentially the same as it inherited (e.g. same level of contamination), it (e.g. same level of contamination), it has satisfied intergenerational justice.has satisfied intergenerational justice.

Are people willing to accept additional Are people willing to accept additional costs/burdens for themselves instead of costs/burdens for themselves instead of shifting them to future generations?shifting them to future generations?

If people are not internally motivated to If people are not internally motivated to accept these costs, should coercive public accept these costs, should coercive public policies be adopted?policies be adopted?

Intergeneration equity is linked to the issue Intergeneration equity is linked to the issue of uncertainty:of uncertainty:– Can we predict the impact of our actions?Can we predict the impact of our actions?– What will future generations value?What will future generations value?– Do we impose our generation’s values on a Do we impose our generation’s values on a

future society by the choices we make?future society by the choices we make?

DiscountingDiscounting

Discounting - technique used by Discounting - technique used by economists to make trade-offs economists to make trade-offs between the present and the future.between the present and the future.

Comparisons across time are Comparisons across time are standardized by calculating the standardized by calculating the present valuepresent value of future benefits. of future benefits.

Discounting can be problematic for Discounting can be problematic for intergenerational comparisons.intergenerational comparisons.

DiscountingDiscounting

Tend to significantly discount benefits to Tend to significantly discount benefits to future generations. Results are typically future generations. Results are typically biased in favor of the present biased in favor of the present generation.generation.

Perhaps use a lower social discount rate?Perhaps use a lower social discount rate?

Can we put dollar values on these Can we put dollar values on these benefits and costs?benefits and costs?

Should we discount the future at all? Should we discount the future at all?

Suggested Intergenerational Suggested Intergenerational Equity PrinciplesEquity Principles

1 Every generation is the trustee for Every generation is the trustee for generations that follow.generations that follow.

There is an obligation to protect future There is an obligation to protect future

generations, provided the generations, provided the interestsinterests of the of the

present generation and its immediate present generation and its immediate

offspring are not unduly jeopardized.offspring are not unduly jeopardized.

3 Near-term concrete hazards have priority Near-term concrete hazards have priority

over long-term hypothetical hazards.over long-term hypothetical hazards.

4 This preference for the present and the near This preference for the present and the near future is reduced where questions of future is reduced where questions of irreversible harm exist.irreversible harm exist.

5 When an action poses a plausible threat of When an action poses a plausible threat of catastrophic effects, then that action should catastrophic effects, then that action should not be pursued, absent some significant not be pursued, absent some significant countervailing need. (countervailing need. (Precautionary Precautionary PrinciplePrinciple))

6 The reduction of resource stocks entails a The reduction of resource stocks entails a duty to develop substitutes. duty to develop substitutes. ((CompensationCompensation))

Concepts of JusticeConcepts of Justice Justice can be thought of in more than Justice can be thought of in more than

one way.one way.

Distributive justiceDistributive justice - focuses on the - focuses on the distribution of outcomes from a distribution of outcomes from a decision. Is the distribution fair or just?decision. Is the distribution fair or just?

Procedural justiceProcedural justice - - concerned with the concerned with the fairness of the process used to arrive at a fairness of the process used to arrive at a decision.decision.

Distributive JusticeDistributive Justice

Equity - outcomes based on Equity - outcomes based on productivity.productivity.

Equality - all members receive the Equality - all members receive the same outcomes.same outcomes.

Need - distribution of resources to Need - distribution of resources to ensure that all essential needs are ensure that all essential needs are met.met.

Procedural justiceProcedural justice - - concerned with the fairness concerned with the fairness of the process used to arrive of the process used to arrive

at a decision.at a decision.

Procedural JusticeProcedural Justice

Can: increase job satisfaction and organizational Can: increase job satisfaction and organizational commitment, and regulatory compliance.commitment, and regulatory compliance.

Procedural justice judgements lead to enhanced Procedural justice judgements lead to enhanced satisfaction with outcomes. Example: the outcome satisfaction with outcomes. Example: the outcome of an environmental conflict.of an environmental conflict.

Procedures are viewed as fairer when they vest Procedures are viewed as fairer when they vest process control or voice in those affected. The process control or voice in those affected. The opportunity to express one’s own point of view, in opportunity to express one’s own point of view, in itself, enhances procedural justice judgements.itself, enhances procedural justice judgements.

Procedural justice enhances the Procedural justice enhances the evaluation of authorities and evaluation of authorities and institutions.institutions.

Procedural justice affects behavior Procedural justice affects behavior (e.g. dispute behavior, decision (e.g. dispute behavior, decision compliance, task performance).compliance, task performance).

People can usually agree on the People can usually agree on the criteria to determine procedural criteria to determine procedural fairness.fairness.

A person may shift back and forth, using A person may shift back and forth, using first one and then another way of framing first one and then another way of framing concerns about justice or fairness.concerns about justice or fairness.

Each frame of reference or context Each frame of reference or context evokes its own standards of fairness. evokes its own standards of fairness. Potential for conflicts over difference Potential for conflicts over difference concepts of justice.concepts of justice.

Justice is in the eye of the beholder.Justice is in the eye of the beholder.

Some characteristics of a Some characteristics of a process that is procedural process that is procedural

justjust UnbiasedUnbiased AccurateAccurate ConsistentConsistent Level playing fieldLevel playing field Standing - representativeStanding - representative Concerned with well-being and needsConcerned with well-being and needs Trust buildingTrust building FlexibleFlexible EthicalEthical

Resolving environmental Resolving environmental conflicts typically requires conflicts typically requires addressing both addressing both ““distributivedistributive” and ” and ““proceduralprocedural” justice ” justice issues.issues.