Abstract
Giving more to those who need more has an intuitive appeal for determining the just allocation of resources. The need principle is considered one of the three major principles of distributive justice. In contrast to equality or equity, however, evidence on the adherence to the needs principle rests mainly on stated instead of revealed preferences. In this paper we present an experimental design that exogenously assigns objective, heterogeneous need thresholds to individuals in small laboratory societies structured by a three-line network. The data reveal that a large proportion of individuals respond to others’ need thresholds, but at a declining rate as thresholds increase. The equal distribution marks a discrete drop in the need satisfaction rate: Need thresholds above the equal distribution are less frequently satisfied. We conclude that others’ needs are weighed against self-interest and equality. Our results provide evidence that distributions may be socially justified on grounds of the need principle.
Highlights
Needs as thresholdsA shared understanding of distributive justice and fairness among a community’s members is fundamental for social order [1]
We find that a large number of individuals respond to others’ need thresholds
The findings are in line with the interpretation of the equal distribution as a trigger point: We observe a substantial discrete drop in the need satisfaction rate for thresholds above the equal distribution in comparison to thresholds below that point
Summary
A shared understanding of distributive justice and fairness among a community’s members is fundamental for social order [1]. The satisfaction of needs is one of the major normative principles of distributive justice, next to equity and equality [4,5,6], and has been the focus of substantial philosophical reflection [7,8,9,10]. A common understanding is that needs cannot be defined in terms of the possession of, or access to, a set of commodities, but have to be considered as “requirements for ‘the opportunity for a full life’” This conception implies that needs extend beyond physical functioning and include social participation in society [7]
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