Alternatif Teoriler Perspektifinden Gelir Dağılımında Adalet: Deneysel Bir Uygulama

Abstract

This study seeks to experimentally investigate the validity of Rawls and Harsanyi’s theory of distributive justice. In this context; the study examines the most preferred justice principle -under the condition of both certainty and uncertainty- for the sake of maximizing individual and group welfare. Two incentive mechanisms -money and grade- are employed to encourage the participation. Experimental findings show that subjects mostly choose the principle of average income maximization in order to maximize their individual expected income. However equality principle is the most preferred alternative in group decisions. Additionally, the observations indicate that, the condition -certainty and uncertainty- creates a difference in the choice of principle. The results also show that personal characteristics, risk perception, gender and incentive differences have no significant impacts on principle choices.