The half life of economic injustice

Abstract This paper addresses a question which is fundamental to the perceived legitimacy of distribution resources today: what extent does unfairness in how assets came be acquired past affect incomes and wealth now? To answer that requires two things: first, principle determine is, not, just acquisition or source income; second, means using estimate fraction income now unjust. I use put forward by Robert Nozick provide first these things then model accumulation economic growth illustrate its implications for scale today. The greater depreciation assets, higher are saving rates out labour less important human capital more transient effects injustices. data on outcomes see if there any evidence those features implies should influence durability injustice help explain cross-country differences attitudes towards unfairness.