Equity,Equality, and Need in the Adult Family

Abstract

British students were given scenarios about family and business situations and were asked to rate various cost allocation decisions in terms of fairness and justice, and conflict. In terms of fairness/justice, there was no difference between the need and equity allocations in the family situation, though equity was preferred in the business situation. The equality division was the least preferred in all situations, and equity was judged to be the division the least likely to evoke conflict in all situations.