Distributive justice is one of two categories of justice or
fairness, the other being retributive justice. Distributive
justice refers to fairness in the allocation of the rewards or
benefits of society or of an institution within society. For
example, it is seen as fair that those student essays which best
meet the criteria of academia should receive the best grades.
When Karl Marx asserts that workers produce value in a commodity
which they do not receive and are thus exploited, he is
concerned about distributive injustice. Retributive justice, on
the other hand, refers to fairness in the administration and
imposition of punishment on those who have brought harm or
negative consequences on individuals or society. Retributive
justice is seen as fair, for example, that those who violate the
law should receive punishment. The criminal justice system can
be thought of as the institutionalization of retributive
justice. Untangling Procedural and Distributive Justice - Their
Relative Effects on Theresa M. Welbour