How Does Justice Relate to Economic Welfare?

This paper argues—contra some Austro-libertarians—that whether a given exchange is welfare-enhancing or welfare-diminishing does not depend on that just unjust, respectively. Rather, we suggest in light of our two thought experiments, Austro-libertarianism has at least pro tanto reason to conceive justice and welfare as logically distinct ideals. would turn, most interestingly, predict the possibility (a) but exchanges (b) unjust ones. Upon considering possible rejoinders points, Austro-libertarians abandon justice-based notion welfare.