A Prelude to the Concept and Indicators of Economic Justice

Expounding the concept and indicators of economic justice is one of the concerns of economists. Despite the studies carried out in this field, there have not been serious attempts to delve into the Islamic view of the indicators of economic justice. Using an analytical method, the present paper proposes that an Islamic formulation of such indicators necessitates distinguishing between four meanings of justice, i.e. equality, giving the rights to those who deserve them, balance and moderation and recognizing the difference between their domains. Economic justice is clearly evident in production, distribution, consumption, and public services and opportunities. The criterion of justice in distribution of opportunities is equality, and its criterion in functional distribution is an entitled share received mutual consent, and its indicator is market price. The criterion of justice in the distribution of income and wealth is balance. Every sound nature considers controlling %99 of the earth's capacities by %1 minority as injustice. Such injustice cannot be justified on the grounds that "this %1 minority has acquired the wealth by the sweet of their brows and paid zakat and khums on it". The criterion of justice in the observance of the rights of the poor is sufficiency-based entitlement and its indicator is living at sufficiency level. The criterion of justice in paying financial rights to relatives is commonly accepted entitlement and its indicator is moderation in its common sense.