Justice Evaluation of Income Distribution in East and West 1

This chapter aims to acquire an understanding of the choice of justice principles that are used as standards in judging the apportionment of incomes, and the formation of judgments regarding the distribution of income. In equity theory the potential role of frames of reference has been largely neglected. Berger, Zelditch, Anderson, and Cohen have criticized equity theory by arguing that issues of distributive justice only arise in the presence of stable frames of reference. The data used to test the hypotheses of the model stem from the International Social Justice Project. The Chapter highlights the effects of motivational factors and situational framing on the choice of justice principles and the passing of justice judgments in the East and the West. It computed the variables_E1 and _E2, indicating the degree to which the individuals in sets 1 and 2 are considered to be under- or over rewarded.