Inequality and Moral Universalism

Funded by: Radbound University. 

In a new experiment, we aim to examine how inequality shapes moral universalism and to identify the mechanisms through which different types of inequality influence it. Moral universalism refers to the extent to which individuals extend the same moral concern to strangers as they do to members of their own group. Understanding how inequality affects moral universalism is highly relevant for policy design because universalistic moral attitudes underpin cooperation, social cohesion, and support for policies that generate broad societal benefits. For example, higher levels of moral universalism are associated with a greater willingness to adopt pro-environmental behaviors and to support climate policies. If inequality reduces moral universalism, it may inadvertently weaken public support for collective goals by reinforcing in-group favoritism and making it more difficult for policymakers to implement effective, society-wide interventions.