Open AccessUnequal Opportunities and Individual Achievements: Effect of Family Background
Author(s) -
Zulfiya Ibragimova,
Marina Franc
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
vestnik kemerovskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. seriâ: političeskie, sociologičeskie i èkonomičeskie nauki
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2542-1190
pISSN - 2500-3372
DOI - 10.21603/2500-3372-2021-6-4-444-452
Subject(s) - inequality , affect (linguistics) , compensation (psychology) , welfare , phenomenon , economic inequality , demographic economics , social inequality , control (management) , economics , psychology , social psychology , mathematics , physics , management , communication , quantum mechanics , market economy , mathematical analysis
Equal opportunity theory is based on the idea that inequality of individual achievements is a complex phenomenon. It is formed by two groups of factors: (1) one's own decisions and efforts (inequality of efforts) and (2) circumstances beyond one's control (inequality of opportunities). Therefore, wealth inequality caused by effort factors (1) is fair and is not to be compensated for, whereas differences in welfare caused by objective circumstances (2) are unfair and should be compensable (the compensation principle). This paper introduces an assessment of circumstances associated with family background: composition, psychological atmosphere, well-being, occupation, education, etc. Parents' education and two-parent status appeared to be the most important circumstances. Respondents who grew up in a two-parent family with both biological parents had a higher income than those who grew up in one-parent families or with one biological and one stepparent. The low economic status of the parental family also proved to affect the well-being of grown-up children. Thus, efforts to provide equal opportunities can have a long-term effect on social inequality and build a more just society.