DISTRIBUTION STANDARDS: Three alternative criteria for distributing income to members of society--contributive standard, equality standard, needs standard. A basic notion in economics is that income is generated through production (circular flow). The amount of income generated each year depends on the value of goods and services produced with the economy's limited resources. But once this income is generated it must be distributed to members of society. The contributive, equality, and needs standards are the three primary criteria for distributing income. See also | income | wealth | contributive standard | equality standard | needs standard | circular flow | value | income distribution | wealth distribution | equity | poverty |
