Microjustice and macrojustice in the allocation of resources between experimental groups

Allocations between experimental groups were hypothesized to be affected by (a) the type of resource being allocated and (b) whether allocations were for groups as whole units or for individuals within the groups. U.S. college students (N = 19) were asked to allocate a property for individual use (money) and a property for social power (calculator time), between either two individuals or two groups. Respondents allocated more money than calculator time to members of a numerical majority group, but only when allocations were made between groups. This pattern of data reached statistical significance for members of the majority and control groups but not for members of the minority group. The evidence suggests that intergroup allocations reflect fairness norms (such as proportionality and equality between groups) as well as in-group favoritism.