ABSTRACT
An increasing chorus of social scientists finds that the affluent have more influence on choice of laws and public policies than the nonaffluent, and especially that the extremely rich have greatly disproportionate impact on the content of the laws and public policies. This chapter characterises two broadly liberal egalitarian social justice perspectives on this disproportionate political power of the wealthy on the content of laws and other public policies enacted in democracies. From an egalitarian welfarist perspective, the power of the wealthy demands remedy just in case, and to the extent that, it impedes increasing good quality lives for people and fairly distributing this good across people. From a relational egalitarian perspective, the power of the wealthy demands remedy just in case, and to the degree that, it impedes relating as equals or itself constitutes relating as equals. A key component of this ideal requires avoidance of social hierarchy, some having asymmetrical power and authority over others, especially when easy exit from relations of hierarchy is unavailable. Both versions of liberal egalitarianism will often oppose the power of the wealthy, but for different reasons, and with different aims in view.
