Cross-Cultural Similarities and Differences in Perceptions of Fairness

Indian and American respondents were presented vignettes that portrayed two target individuals, one meritorious and one financially needy. The respondents' task was to allocate a resource between the targets in the fairest way. In half of the vignettes the resource was positive (bonus money); in the other half it was negative (reduction in salary). Every combination of sex-of-target was used. Results showed significant positive and negative effects in both cultures, such that respondents gave preference to the needy target significantly more in the negative than in the positive situation. Indians, in general, gave preference to the needy over the meritorious more than did the Americans.