ABSTRACT
Welfarist libertarianism is the view that libertarian institutions promote social welfare more successfully than available alternative institutional arrangements. This chapter surveys the principal welfarist arguments for and against libertarianism. After a brief sketch of the most prominent theories of welfare, I outline the basic welfarist case for libertarianism and consider whether welfarism can provide an adequate defense of rights. Next, I review the central welfarist objections to libertarianism along with libertarian replies, starting with the market’s inability to provide mutually beneficial public goods. I close by examining arguments alleging that an active redistributive and regulatory state outperforms libertarian institutions in promoting the welfare of the poor and protecting people from their own bad choices.
