Market operation and distributive justice: An evaluation of the ACCRA confession

Abstract

In the so-called ACCRA declaration of 2004 the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) condemns neo liberal globalisation on grounds of lack of justice. This paper outlines ten alternative criteria for distributive justice. We show that Biblical ethics support various of these criteria, including distribution in accordance to needs, the capability approach of Sen, reward of productivity and procedural justice in transactions. Next, we present an overview of empirical research to the impact of international market operation on distributive justice. We evaluate the conclusion of the WARC that market operation is opposite to Christian faith.Distributive justice; libertarianism; moral desert; egalitarianism; Christian ethics; market operation; poverty; income inequality