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Comment les Français perçoivent-ils l’égalité des chances ?

Author

Listed:
  • Michel Forsé
  • Maxime Parodi

Abstract

Do the French believe in equality of opportunity? The survey ?Dynegal? asked the question in 2013 to a representative sample of 4000 individuals and their responses are quite divided. The middle class is more convinced than other that school gives everyone a chance and that success in life does not depend on social origin. This result is consistent with Simmel?s thesis granting to the middle class a key role in social mobility. The survey also asked questions about the relationship between belief in equality of opportunity and social expectations in terms of recognition of merit and equal results. As expected, the less people believe in equal opportunities, the less they defend recognition of merit, and the more they demand equality of results. In contrast, these French who are perfectly convinced that everyone has the same chance of success defend not only the recognition of merit, but also equality of places. This unexpected result reveals, in fact, a risk inherent in a society thought as completely meritocratic: the risk of absolutely discrediting the losers and not finding them their places in the society. JEL : D63, Z13.

Suggested Citation

  • Michel Forsé & Maxime Parodi, 2016. "Comment les Français perçoivent-ils l’égalité des chances ?," Revue de l'OFCE, Presses de Sciences-Po, vol. 0(2), pages 67-88.
    • Handle: RePEc:cai:reofsp:reof_146_0067
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    equality of opportunity; social classes; school; social mobility; merit; perception of inequalities; social justice;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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