Equality of outcome is a form of egalitarianism which seeks to reduce or eliminate differences in material condition between individuals or households in a society. This usually means equalizing income and/or total wealth to some degree. Egalitarianism can refer to moral as well as factual theories. ... Income, generally defined, is the money that is received as a result of the normal business activities of an individual or a business. ... Wealth from the old English word weal, which means well-being or welfare. The term was originally an adjective to describe the possession of such qualities. ...

In theory, equality of outcome can be distinguished from equal opportunity. Outcomes can usually be measured with a great degree of precision, opportunities cannot. That is why many proponents of equal opportunity use measures of equality of outcome to judge success. To the extent that inequalities can be passed from one generation to another through substantial gifts and wealth inheritance, it is unclear that equality of opportunity for children can be achieved without greater equality of outcome for parents. Moreover, access and opportunity to various social institutions is partially dependent on equality of outcome. Proponents recognize that greater equality of outcome can be a force preventing co-optation of non-economic institutions important to social control and policy formation, such as the legal system, media or the electoral process, by individuals and coalitions of wealthy people. Equal opportunity is a descriptive term for an approach intended to provide a certain social environment in which ensure people are not excluded from the activities of society, such as education, employment, or health care, on the basis of immutable traits. ... Generation (From the Greek γιγνμαι), also known as procreation, is the act of producing offspring. ... Inheritance is the practice of passing on property, titles, debts, and obligations upon the death of an individual. ...

A progressive taxation system is likely to increase equality of outcome, and so is a welfare state. However, these will tend only to reduce social inequality, not eliminate it entirely. A much further reduction in social inequality is the goal of most forms of socialism. A progressive tax, or graduated tax, is a tax that is larger as a percentage of income for those with larger incomes. ... It has been suggested that Welfare capitalism be merged into this article or section. ... Social inequality refers to disparities in the distribution of material wealth in a society. ... Socialism refers to a broad array of doctrines or political movements that envisage a socio-economic system in which property and the distribution of wealth are subject to social control. ...

Greater equality of outcome is likely to reduce relative poverty, leading to a more cohesive society. Advocation of greater equality reducing relative poverty is not in contradiction with a position advocating raising living standards absolutely; in other words, it is not construed by its advocates as necessitating an impingement on overall economic growth, just distribution. One of the professed virtues of progressive taxation is that it can put money into the pockets of the sections of the populace with the most propensity to spend (workers and the poor), leading to economic growth driven by high aggregate demand. Among critics, some believe that equality may damage incentives to work harder, and that the standard of living of the poorest in absolute terms is more important than their relative position; and some, whose thoughts are commonly associated with aristocratic and elitist traditions, disagree with the concept of equality of outcome on philosophical grounds. Relative poverty is a poverty measure based on a poor standard of living or a low income relative to the rest of society. ... A progressive tax, or graduated tax, is a tax that is larger as a percentage of income for those with larger incomes. ... In economics, aggregate demand is the total demand for goods and services in the economy (Y) during a specific time period. ... The Standard of living refers to the quality and quantity of goods and services available to people and the way these services and goods are distributed within a population. ...

A related argument is often encountered in education and more specifically in the debates on the grammar school in the United Kingdm and in the debates on gifted education in various countries. According to that argument, people by nature have differing levels of ability and initiative which lead some to achieve better outcomes than others. Therefore, it is considered impossible to ensure equality of outcome without imposing inequality of opportunity. Advocates of equality of outcome usually respond with the argument that it is society which makes it easier for some individuals to surpass others, and that the natural differences between people are merely a matter of different people being better at different activities, rather than some being overall superior to others. The debate about the merits of the British Tripartite System, also known as the grammar school system, still continues forty years after its abolition was initiated. ... Gifted education is a broad term for special practices, procedures and theories used in the education of children who have been identified as gifted or talented. ...

John Rawls, in his A Theory of Justice, developed a "second principle of justice" that economic and social inequalities can only be justified if they benefit the most disadvantaged members of society. Furthermore, all economically and socially privileged positions must be open to all people equally. Rawls argues that the inequality between a doctor's salary and a grocery clerk's is only acceptable if this is the only way to encourage the training of sufficient numbers of doctors, preventing an unacceptable decline in the availability of medical care (which would therefore disadvantage everyone). John Rawls (February 21, 1921 – November 24, 2002) was an American philosopher, a professor of political philosophy at Harvard University and author of A Theory of Justice (1971), Political Liberalism, Justice as Fairness: A Restatement, and The Law of Peoples. ... A Theory of Justice is a book of political and moral philosophy by John Rawls. ...

See also

• Income inequality metrics
• Inequity aversion