An Essay on the Philosophy and Psychodynamics of Income Distribution

Abstract

This essay considers certain fundamental aspects of the philosophy and psychodynamics of distribution and how they have entered economic theory. It treats, first, considerations of distribution as a driving force in the economy; second, the forces and considerations which have governed the treatment of distribution in economic theory; and, third, distribution as an artifact in relation to the economic role of government and the use of government to control distribution. The present essay is a sequel to Samuels (1981, 1982, 1983) and Samuels and Kelsey (1991).