Abortion and Public Policy
This article appeared in the Summer 2024 issue of The Independent Review.
The naive Rawlsian conclusion that abortion should be banned isnt correct. A more careful Rawlsian analysisbased on hypothetical contracts with souls who abide behind the veil of ignoranceargues for more births but leads to the conclusion that most abortions should be unrestricted. Life, like everything else we value, should be produced efficiently. No observer can know whether a woman is a low-cost producer. Only she knows. Therefore, if we want more babies, the efficient solution isnt to conscript people for parenthood, but to subsidize it.
Independent Review Issues
Articles by Issue