Definition
Equality of Outcomes is a concept of fairness that seeks to ensure all individuals achieve the same final results or share of resources, regardless of their starting position or effort.
Why It Matters
It often requires state intervention and redistribution, prioritizing collective equality over individual meritocratic incentives.
Core Concepts
- The Liberal Standard: Classical liberalism is built on equality of opportunity, recognizing that human diversity will naturally lead to unequal outcomes.
- The Progressive/DIE Mandate: Modern “equity” focuses on equality of outcome, viewing any disparity in results as prima facie evidence of “systemic bias” or “oppression.”
- Interest-Based Differences: Biologists recognize that men and women possess evolutionarily-based distinct preferences (e.g., people vs. things). In a world of perfect opportunity, these differences will manifest as “gendered” career outcomes.
- The Nordic Paradox: Countries with the highest levels of gender equality (e.g., Norway, Sweden) see greater gender disparities in career choice, as individuals are more free to follow their innate preferences.
- The Costs of Outcome Mandates: Achieving equality of outcome requires illiberal intervention (quotas, de-emphasizing merit), leading to a decline in technical outperformance and a Legitimation Crisis.