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Unearned equality is a concept that describes the existence of equal outcomes or opportunities for individuals or groups that have not earned them through their own efforts. This concept often contrasts with earned equality, which recognizes the value of hard work and personal merit in achieving success.

Unearned equality is controversial in political and social philosophy, with advocates and opponents on both sides.

Proponents
Proponents argue that unearned equality is necessary to address systemic inequalities and provide marginalized individuals or groups a more level playing field. They believe that equal outcomes or opportunities are a basic human right society should guarantee.

Opponents
Opponents of unearned equality argue that it undermines the principles of meritocracy and individual responsibility. They argue that rewards and opportunities should be earned through hard work and personal achievement rather than distributed equally regardless of individual effort or talent. Studies have shown in both the United States and the United Kingdom that workers would prefer to have the opportunity for advancement even if it means less income distribution.

Critics also argue that by encouraging a decrease in unearned equality, an increase in happiness, social trust, motivation, and productivity can all happen despite a gap in wealth if it is based upon societal contributions. In the 1860s, the message of unearned equality was spoken by President Lincoln, who believed everyone should have a chance to prosper without laws hindering them and everyone should have equal opportunity “to get rich”.

Education
The prospects of a sustainable future tend to depend heavily on the education and income of parents, which is out of the control of the individual. We see the same in primary school, where a gap in educational opportunity and lack of resources is prevalent between inn-city Chicago children versus children in the suburban neighborhoods in Naperville, hampering academic fulfillment. The community and lack of wealth still hold groups of children back even when districts attempt to attract teachers who can raise test scores proving economic segregation will decrease students’ opportunities for high-quality teachers. The intolerance is demonstrated by household income; the average white household dropped 16 percent of their wealth, African Americans lost 53 percent, and Hispanic families lost 66 percent from 2005 to 2009.

Race
Even after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, discrimination persists, and the government is lax in enforcing anti-discrimination laws. The market practices discrimination in many forms, such as in the housing, financial, and labor markets.

Gender
Women tend to experience a pay gap despite the effort to draw wages closer. Women in the workforce are more concentrated in the service workforce, where job security is lower due to economic vulnerability, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw significant layoffs due to lockdown procedures. Women tend to bear the burden of the household leading to some 900,000 women leaving the workforce to focus on childcare and educational needs during the COVID-19 pandemic further encouraging a male dominant workforce.

Regulation
Regulations favor unearned equality in that they favor the top one percent. Politicians have more incentive to solicit donations from the top one percent as it is easier given the effort and administration needed to solicit and run off donations of less than $100, which makes it more favorable to tend to the needs of the wealthy compared to lower and middle-class citizens. Regulations have grown substantially where in 2012, the Federal Code of Regulations was about 175,000, which Home Depot co-founder does not believe he would be able to get off the ground with such robust regulations. Such strong regulations discourage and disable the not well off from prospering due to the lengthy legal restrictions restricting innovation, high taxations creating a barrier to entry, and the regulations preventing investors leading to a need for self-funding innovations being suppressed by high income-taxation. Google’s CEO best explains regulation as creating a defined path that must be followed. Following the regulation’s approach creates a bias for current outcomes because entrepreneurs cannot forge a new way.

Research
A population of Americans surveyed found that 60% of Americans believe that people willing to work hard will be able to get ahead. The survey also found that 86% believe inequality gives the wealthy population more unjustified political access and influence.

Despite these criticisms, unearned equality remains a widely debated topic in modern political discourse, with various proposals and initiatives being put forth by policymakers and advocacy groups to address issues of inequality and injustice.

Overall, unearned equality is an important consideration in social justice and fairness discussions and will likely continue to be a contentious issue for years to come.