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Horizontal Equity
Author(s) -
GALBIATI ROBERTO,
VERTOVA PIETRO
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
economica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.532
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1468-0335
pISSN - 0013-0427
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-0335.2007.00603.x
Subject(s) - normative , equity (law) , economics , horizontal and vertical , order (exchange) , positive economics , meaning (existential) , mathematical economics , law and economics , epistemology , mathematics , philosophy , political science , law , geometry , finance
The principle of horizontal equity (HE) is considered as a basic principle to follow in order to design and evaluate a redistributive policy. However, the theoretical debate has not yet clarified what exactly horizontal equity is. In this paper we aim to clarify the meaning of the principle of HE and its normative content. In particular, we establish the true status of the two fundaments of the principle of HE, defining what is meant by ‘equals’ and then treating these ‘equals’‘equally’. Our analysis brings forth a new and more appropriate definition of the principle of HE.