Abstract
This article investigates factors that cause sense of unfairness. In this study, I consider fairness evaluation with regard to achieved ascriptions as the evaluation index for distribution of resources. Then, I focus on inequality of opportunity, which protests resource allocation by the achieved ascriptions. In the analysis, I focus on whether inclination to perceive inequality of opportunity relates to objective social standings and sense of unfairness. On the basis of this procedure, this study aims to unveil how social class relates sense of unfairness through perception of inequality of opportunity.
Analysis shows that the higher the perceived inequality of opportunity is, the deeper the sense of unfairness is. When I examine the relation between social standings and both variables mentioned above, strong perception of inequality and sense of unfairness are observed in low social standings. A multiple regression analysis reports negative correlation between educational background and sense of unfairness and positive correlation between the perception of inequality and sense of unfairness. This correlation between educational background and sense of unfairness does not disappear even if I control the perception of inequality. Thus, the following are my conclusions: First, when the social class of people is low, their inclination to perceive inequality of opportunity is strong, and it results in deep sense of unfairness. Second, social class directly influences sense of unfairness since lowly educated people think distribution of resources more unfair.
