 Another set of views, in opposition to Rawls’ Difference Principle, emphasizes the importance of relative position not as a value in itself but because of its effect on other relations. In particular, if some people are significantly better off materially than others then that can result in them having significant power over others. Rawls’ response to this criticism appeals to the lexical priority of his first principle: The inequalities consistent with the Difference Principle are only permitted so long as they do not compromise the fair value of the political liberties. So, for instance, very large wealth differentials may make it practically impossible for poor people to be elected to political office or to have their political views represented. These inequalities of wealth, even if they increase the material position of the least advantaged group, may need to be reduced in order for the first principle to be implemented. However, while this provides a partial reply to Rawls’ critics, it does not seem to recognize that it is not just differential political power that can come from significant differences in economic position but also economic power and hence economic freedom. Virtual monopoly employers in regions of developing economies give a stark illustration of this phenomenon. Of course, Rawls can appeal in such cases to the empirical claim that such differentials do not maximize the long-term position of the least advantaged. The empirical question will be whether all such large differentials which result in large differences in economic power also demonstrably have the result of worsening the absolute position of the least advantaged.