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On the definition of perfect equity and the prediction of inequity
Author(s) -
Wagstaff Graham F.,
Perfect Tim
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
british journal of social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 2044-8309
pISSN - 0144-6665
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8309.1992.tb00956.x
Subject(s) - equity (law) , distributive justice , popularity , equity theory , psychology , social psychology , distributive property , positive economics , economics , econometrics , mathematical economics , economic justice , microeconomics , mathematics , political science , law , pure mathematics
Despite the popularity of the concept of psychological equity as a principle of distributive justice, attempts to accommodate the assumptions of equity theorists within an algebraic formula have been the source of much controversy. In this article shortcomings with existing formulae are discussed, and a ratio equity formula is proposed, together with a supporting rationale. The formula describes ‘perfect equity’ such that it is possible to describe with some precision ‘degrees of inequity’, and a reanalysis of previous empirical data from Harris (1980) is presented as evidence for the practical utility of this formula.