Equality of opportunity versus equality of opportunity sets

Erwin Ooghe (), Erik Schokkaert and Dirk Van de Gaer

Public Economics Working Paper Series from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Centrum voor Economische Studiën, Working Group Public Economics

Abstract: We characterize two different approaches to the idea of equality of opportunity. Roemer's social ordering is motivated by a concern to compensate for the effects of certain (non-responsibility) factors on outcomes. Van de gaer's social ordering is concerned with the equalization of the opportunity sets to which people have access. We show how different invariance axioms open the possibility to go beyond the simple additive specification implied by both rules. This offers scope for a broader interpretation of responsibility-sensitive egalitarianism.

New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cdm
Date: 2003
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Related works:
Working Paper: Equality of opportunity versus equality of opportunity sets (2004)
Journal Article: Equality of Opportunity versus Equality of Opportunity Sets (2007)
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