Social minimum
Debates over justice and the welfare state
It considers which resources or conditions society should guarantee each person.
Historical context
Debates over the welfare state and distributive justice ask what should be guaranteed when some people fall below minimum conditions.
Overview
A cash guarantee can be insufficient where housing, care, or transport are inaccessible. Defining the minimum requires specifying what someone can actually do with available resources.
Main claims
A society may have a duty to secure a threshold of resources or opportunities for its members.
Debates and nuances
Proposals differ in foundations and thresholds of sufficiency.
This entry provides educational context.