Choice Group Seminar by Benjamin Ferguson (The University of Warwick) and Roberto Veneziani (Queen Mary University of London): ‘What Exploitation Is’

Abstract: We adopt an experimental approach to gauge the philosophers’ view of what exploitation is. Our experimental design does not test existing theories of exploitation. Rather, it focuses on more fundamental properties that are the building blocks for these theories. We find, first, that exploitation is not a vacuous concept: not all economic interactions are deemed exploitative. Second, contrary to several of the major approaches in the literature, both inequalities in the distribution of economic gains and asymmetric power relations contribute to exploitative relations. Indeed, what really seems to matter is the interaction of power and inequality: the effect of both elements together is significantly greater than the sum of each on their own. Power matters particularly if it arises from a previous injustice. Finally, and perhaps remarkably, we found no major differences in exploitation ascriptions between philosophers and the public.

Benjamin Ferguson is a Director of the Philosophy, Politics, and Economics programme and a Professor in PPE at the University of Warwick.

Roberto Veneziani holds a PhD. in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Sciences. He is a Professor in Economics at the School of Economics and Finance, Queen Mary University of London.

This event will take place in person on LSE’s campus. However, those unable to attend in person will have the option of taking part online.

To join online just follow these instructions:

• Download Zoom
• Zoom link for this for this meeting: https://lse.zoom.us/j/6613924533 

Please note that these events are routinely recorded, with the edited footage being made publicly available on our website and YouTube channel. We will only record the audio, the slides and the speaker and will not include the Q&A section. However, any question asked during the talk itself will feature in the final edit.