Does distributive inequality cause relational inequality? Evidence from a survey experiment

Baderin, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7207-8825, Barnes, L. and Richards, L. (2025) Does distributive inequality cause relational inequality? Evidence from a survey experiment. Ethical Theory and Moral Practice. ISSN 1572-8447 (In Press)

Abstract/Summary

Contemporary egalitarian theory has been shaped by a debate between distributive and relational perspectives. Relational egalitarians argue that equality is primarily about the character of our social and political relationships, rather than the pattern of distribution of goods. But they often also claim that distributive and relational ideals are connected in practice, because material inequality impairs our ability to stand as social and political equals. Using a survey experiment, we assess the impact of material inequality on relational equality. We show that priming income inequality increases perceptions of unequal social status; but it does not affect perceived equal political standing, or the extent to which respondents affirm the ideal of relational equality. We argue that this empirical approach yields deeper payoffs for conceptual and normative questions about relational equality; and it contributes to wider methodological debates about the role of survey data in normative political theory.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/id/eprint/123867
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Arts, Humanities and Social Science > School of Politics, Economics and International Relations > Politics and International Relations
Publisher	Springer
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