Abstract
This paper shows how James M. Buchanan's interpretation of John Rawls' work changed over time. Rawls and Buchanan simultaneously developed a new approach to the social contract, both in philosophy and economics. Shortly after the publication of John Rawls’s ‘A Theory of Justice’ in 1971, Buchanan had a negative reaction, although over the years he progressively defended some aspects of Rawls' work. This change would have been motivated by the success of Rawls' work and the fact that his approach was attacked by the same critics of Buchanan himself.
Keywords:
James M. Buchanan; John Rawls; Social Contract