Fair and luck egalitarian inequality of opportunity

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ID: 321710
2026
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Abstract
Abstract Different conceptions of inequality of opportunity have been developed in political philosophy. We focus on two competing conceptions: fair and luck egalitarian inequality of opportunity. We develop an empirical framework to measure and compare these conceptions. Both fair and luck egalitarian inequality of opportunity consider it unjust if ascribed characteristics such as social origin, gender, race, and ethnicity affect life outcomes. However, they differ in what they regard as just: fair inequality of opportunity considers it just if abilities and individual choices affect life outcomes, while luck egalitarian inequality of opportunity considers it just only if individual choices affect life outcomes. We measure fair and luck egalitarian inequality of opportunity in education, occupation, income, and wealth using survey data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY). Our results show that conclusions about inequality of opportunity depend on the conception of inequality of opportunity employed. From the perspective of fair inequality of opportunity, the United States is a rather just society, while the nation’s degree of luck egalitarian inequality of opportunity is high. The difference between fair and luck egalitarian inequality of opportunity is largest for education, followed by occupation, and finally income and wealth. There is no evidence that changes across cohorts differed between fair and luck egalitarian inequality of opportunity.
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openalex_W7169878588 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Michael Grätz, Alicia García-Sierra
Journal social forces
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/sf/soag099
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/sf/soag099
Keywords Keywords not found

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