Preference for distribution by equal outcome in 5- and 6-year-old children

Abstract

This study investigated preferences for types of fairness applied in resource distribution. We consider two types of equal distribution: according to the equal-allocation principle (new resources are distributed evenly without considering currently possessed resources) or the equal-outcome principle (equal outcome amounts result after distribution because current resources are considered). Children aged 5–6 and adults participated. The participant initially had two sets of two marbles (participant condition) or each of two puppets initially had two marbles (puppet condition). Then one puppet distributed new marbles between itself and the participant by equal-outcome. Next, the other puppet distributed new marbles by equal-allocation. The results showed that the majority of children and adults selected the distribution by equal-outcome for both conditions. This suggests that people prefer distribution by equal-outcome to distribution by equal-allocation. However, some children aged 5–6 thought that distribution by equal-allocation was better only when they already had resources.

Keywords:

• Resource distribution
• equal outcome
• equal allocation

Acknowledgements

I thank the teachers at Kobe University Kindergarten for their help in coordinating the data collection. I am grateful to the children who participated and their families. I also thank Kae Irie, Yujiro Kubo, Kana Komatsu, Yuna Takeuchi, and Yoshimi Ban for their help with the data collection.