Are Self-Made Men Made Equally? An Experimental Test of Impartial Redistribution and Perceptions of Self-Determination

David Chavanne, Kevin McCabe and Maria Pia Paganelli
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David Chavanne: Economics Department, Connecticut College
Maria Pia Paganelli: Department of Economics, Trinity University

Nordic Journal of Political Economy, 2015, vol. 40, 3

Abstract: Using a laboratory experiment, we examine if third party redistribution from a “Have” to a “Have-not” is affected by (1) whether a Have’s advantage is in some way self-determined and (2) whether self-determination occurs in two dimensions compared to one dimension. We find that redistribution decreases if a Have earns an advantageous opportunity or earns income. But we also find that redistribution does not decrease any further if a Have earns both an opportunity and income. These results suggest that, in line with existing work, the perception that advantages are self-determined matters for redistribution. But the results also suggest that, once one develops the perception that self-determination exists, additional dimensions self-determination may not matter on the margin. We also find that stakeholders’ expectations of redistribution do not depend on whether advantages in the experiment are self-determined. Expectations instead depend on whether a stakeholder is a Have or a Have-not.

JEL-codes: C91 D31 D63 D84 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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