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World of Difference

A Moral Perspective on Social Inequality

Gioia Marini Naomi Ellemers Gwen Eijk Irene Staveren Félice Nunspeet Daan Scheepers Neelke Doorn Pauline Kleingeld Kate Pickett Belle Derks

9789462984028
120 pages
Amsterdam University Press
Overview
Public debates tend to see social inequality as resulting from individual decisions people make, for instance with respect to their education or lifestyle. Solutions are often sought in supporting individuals to make better choices. This neglects the importance of social groups and communities in determining individual outcomes. A moral perspective on social inequality questions the fairness of insisting on individual responsibilities, when members of some groups systematically receive fewer opportunities than others.

The essays in this book have been prepared by experts from different disciplines, ranging from philosophy to engineering, and from economics to epidemiology. On the basis of recent scientific insights, World of Difference examines how group memberships impact on individual outcomes in four key domains: health, education and work, migration, and the environment. This offers a new moral perspective on social inequality, which policy makers tend to neglect.
Author Bio
Naomi Ellemers is a social psychologist. She has published extensively on social inequality in a range of outlets, including Science. She is Distinguished University Professor at Utrecht University, and a member of the Supervisory Board of PWC in the Netherlands. Ellemers is a member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, and Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy. Her work has attracted various honors, including the highest scientific distinction in the Netherlands, the Spinoza award.