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Does Distributive Inequality Cause Relational Inequality? Evidence from a Survey Experiment
Alice Baderin1, Lucy Barnes2, Lindsay Richards3
1Department of Politics and International Relations, University of Reading, 293 Edith Morley Building, Whiteknights, RG6 6EL Reading, UK.
Ethical Theory and Moral Practice : an International Forum
|April 3, 2026
Summary
This study found that priming income inequality increases perceptions of unequal social status but does not impact perceived political equality or the affirmation of relational equality ideals. It explores the link between material inequality and social equality.
Area of Science:
- Political Theory
- Social Psychology
- Economic Sociology
Background:
- Egalitarian theory debates distributive vs. relational perspectives.
- Relational egalitarians emphasize social/political relationships over goods distribution.
- Material inequality is often claimed to hinder social and political equality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To empirically assess the impact of material inequality on relational equality.
- To investigate how income inequality influences perceptions of social and political standing.
- To contribute to methodological debates on using survey data in normative political theory.
Main Methods:
- A survey experiment was conducted.
- Participants were primed with information about income inequality.
- Perceptions of social status, political standing, and relational equality ideals were measured.
Main Results:
- Priming income inequality increased perceptions of unequal social status.
- No significant effect was found on perceived equal political standing.
- Affirmation of the ideal of relational equality remained unaffected.
Conclusions:
- Material inequality may primarily affect social status perceptions, not necessarily political equality or the ideal of relational equality.
- Empirical findings offer insights into conceptual and normative questions about relational equality.
- The study highlights the value of survey data in normative political theory.
Keywords:
Distributive egalitarianismEmpirically-informed political theoryInequalityRelational egalitarianismSocial statusMore Related Videos
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