Justice-seeking in the perspective of rent-seeking

Modern theories of rent-seeking analyze both input and output of rent-seeking to assess its effects on societies. Also, justice-seeking is associated with cost and outcome. Social cost of justice-seeking is enormous if justice is sought through such means as violence or fighting. On the other hand, social cost is low if justice-seeking takes place through peaceful means including negotiation. Likewise, justice-seeking produces some end results such as changes in institutions which result in greater distributive justice. At the same time, it can lead a society towards further chaos and anarchy. Therefore, a model of justice-seeking should consider both justice-seeking cost and outcome. Drawing upon the analytical framework of rent-seeking, the paper argues that justice-seeking can be welfare-enhancing or welfare-reducing depending on the process of seeking-justice as well as the results it produces. Evidences are provided illustrating some episodes of justice-seeking.