On 30 November 2023, Bastian Ravesteijn, Assistant Professor of Applied Economics at Erasmus School of Economics, appeared on the NPO Radio 1 programme 'De Nacht van NTR'. Every week, a different scientist joins the podcast to talk about the topic he or she conducts research in. Ravesteijn chimed in to elaborate on his research on equity and social insurance.
There are several definitions for the concept of equity. The most comprehensive, according to Ravesteijn, is that the outcomes in your life should mainly depend on the things that you can influence, such as the choices you make. The factors you cannot influence, such as the environment you grow up in, should not play a role in the outcomes in your life.
‘In an opportunity-equal society, people who are unlucky because of factors they cannot influence should be compensated through policy,’ the Assistant Professor argues. Opportunity inequality plays out in societies where this does not happen, or to a lesser extent. In the end, an opportunity-equal society is better for everyone, Ravesteijn concludes.
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You can listen to the full episode from NPO Radio 1, 30 November 2023, here.