Unequal chances: ex ante fairness and individual control

Unequal financial outcomes often originate from unequal chances. Yet, compared to outcomes, little is known about how individuals perceive unequal distributions of chances. We investigate empirically the role of different sources of unequal chances in shaping inequality perceptions. Importantly, we do so from an ex ante perspective—i.e., before the chances are realized—which has rarely been explored. In an online survey, we asked uninvolved respondents to evaluate ex ante the fairness of unequal allocations of chances. We varied the source of inequality of chances, using a comprehensive range of factors which resemble several real world situations. Respondents also evaluated how much control individuals hold over the distribution of chances. Results show that different sources generate different ex ante perception of fairness. That is, unequal chances based on socioeconomic and biological factors, such as gender, family income and ethnicity, are evaluated to be unfair relative to the same chances based on effort, knowledge, and benevolence. Results also show that, for most individuals, there is a positive correlation between perceived control of a factor and fairness of unequal chances based on that factor. Luck appears to be an exception to this correlation, ranking as high in fairness as effort, knowledge, and benevolence, but similarly low in individual control as ethnicity, family income, and gender.

How fair/unfair would you consider the distribution of chances to win the lottery prize based on the following procedure: -Knowledge: Chances are allocated based on the results in a general knowledge quiz. The person with the higher results receives a 90% chance to win, and the person with the lower results receives a 10% chance to win.
-Effort: Chances are allocated based on the results of a task that depends on effort. In the task, people see dots appearing randomly on horizontal bars on their computer screen. Their task is to position as many dots as possible in the middle of the horizontal bars. The person who places more dots in the correct position in a given time receives a 90% chance to win, and the person who places less dots in the correct position receives a 10% chance to win.
-Luck: Chances are allocated by throwing a 6-faced die. If the die number is smaller than or equal to 3, one person receives a 90% chance to win, and the other person receives a 10% chance to win. If the die number is greater than 3, the chances are reversed.
-Height: Chances are allocated based on height. The taller person receives a 90% chance to win, and the shorter person receives a 10% chance to win.
-Weight: Chances are allocated based on weight. The heavier person receives a 90% chance to win, and the lighter person receives a 10% chance to win.
-Gender: Chances are allocated based on gender. The two persons have different genders. The man receives a 90% chance to win, and the woman receives a 10% chance to win.
-ID: Chances are allocated based on student ID number. The person with the higher student ID number receives a 90% chance to win, and the person with the lower student ID number receives a 10% chance to win.
-Nationality: Chances between students at the School of Business and Economics of Maastricht University are allocated based on one's country of origin. The German student receives a 90% chance to win, whereas the non-German student receives a 10% chance to win.
-Ethnicity: Chances are allocated based on one's skin color. The two persons have different skin colors. The person with the lighter skin color receives a 90% chance to win, whereas the person with the darker skin color receives a 10% chance to win.
-Benevolence: Chances are allocated based on one's decision to help. The two persons both had an opportunity to help someone in need and only one decided to help. The person who helped receives a 90% chance to win, whereas the person who did not help receives a 10% chance to win.
-Family Income: Chances are allocated based on one's parental income. The person whose parents have a higher income receives a 90% chance to win, whereas the person whose parents have a lower income receives a 10% chance to win.

Instructions Individual Control
Consider the same situation in which lottery tickets are distributed between two persons. Generally we ask you to assume that these two persons have a similar social, economic and educational background. In some cases this will not be so and you will be explicitly informed about it. The allocation of tickets is based on various procedures. Now we would like to know how much control you consider people have over the distribution of chances for each of the following procedures. Again, there are no right or wrong answers. We are solely interested in your preferences and opinions. It is important for our research that you answer all questions honestly.

Questions Individual Control-Regular Block
How much control do you think people have over the chances they receive to win the lottery prize, when the distribution of chances is based on the following procedure.
Note for the reader: Factors were described in the same manner as in the Fairness Instructions.