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The impact of need on distributive decisions: Experimental evidence on anchor effects of exogenous thresholds in the laboratory
- Source :
- PLoS ONE, PLoS ONE, Vol 15, Iss 4, p e0228753 (2020)
- Publication Year :
- 2020
- Publisher :
- Public Library of Science, 2020.
-
Abstract
- Giving more to those who need more has an intuitive appeal for determining the just allocation of resources. The need principle is considered one of the three major principles of distributive justice. In contrast to equality or equity, however, evidence on the adherence to the needs principle rests mainly on stated instead of revealed preferences. In this paper we present an experimental design that exogenously assigns objective, heterogeneous need thresholds to individuals in small laboratory societies structured by a three-line network. The data reveal that a large proportion of individuals respond to others' need thresholds, but at a declining rate as thresholds increase. The equal distribution marks a discrete drop in the need satisfaction rate: Need thresholds above the equal distribution are less frequently satisfied. We conclude that others' needs are weighed against self-interest and equality. Our results provide evidence that distributions may be socially justified on grounds of the need principle.
- Subjects :
- Economics
Social Sciences
Sociology
050602 political science & public administration
Psychology
050207 economics
Distributive justice
Multidisciplinary
Experimental Design
Applied Mathematics
05 social sciences
Statistics
General Medicine
Experimental economics
0506 political science
Distributive property
Social Networks
Research Design
Needs assessment
Physical Sciences
Medicine
Health Resources
General Agricultural and Biological Sciences
Network Analysis
Needs Assessment
Social theory
Research Article
Computer and Information Sciences
Experimental Economics
Science
Decision theory
Decision Making
Appeal
Social Theory
Research and Analysis Methods
General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
Microeconomics
Decision Theory
Social Justice
0502 economics and business
Humans
Behavior
Motivation
Equity (economics)
Cognitive Psychology
Biology and Life Sciences
Cognitive Science
Mathematics
Finance
Neuroscience
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19326203
- Volume :
- 15
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- PLoS ONE
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....57c3935a4daa99a972e01aebb143b075