Applying the fairness test to public policy

摘要

At the heart of the rows which occupy the public's attention - whether its bank bonuses, free schools, income tax, MPs' expenses and benefits, the NHS, public sector pensions or council chief execu tives' salaries - lies a very simple question. Namely: Is it fair? The concept of fairness is one that politi cians have to be keenly attuned to in order to maintain public support People regard huge bonuses for loss-making banks or quasi-state monopolies as unfair.