 Scanlon sketches several proposed desert bases by appeal to which a desertist might attempt to explain why justice requires that citizens receive economic benefits from their countries. These include (a) being morally meritorious, (b) having expended effort in productive labor, (c) having made some other socially valuable contribution, and (d) being in possession of some special talent. In each case, Scanlon claims either that the alleged factor is not a desert base at all, or else that appeal to it cannot explain why certain people deserve greater economic benefits from their countries. 