Conclusion: Elements of a Theory of Need-based Justice

This chapter aggregates the results of the disciplinary and mostly experimental sub-projects of the research group “Need-Based Justice and Distribution Procedures” into an empirically informed normative theory of need-based justice. Its elements include a concept of need, the identification of need, the recognition of need, and the consequences of need-based redistribution. The chapter also critically discusses the results in relation to the normative criteria of consistency, legitimacy, and sustainability. As a central result, we present a distributive principle for prosperous societies based on reciprocal solidarity—the Lexineed principle—which, within the framework of a strong pluralistic theory of distributive justice, gives priority to the satisfaction of recognized needs over all other principles of justice.