What does “equality” really mean to people across Europe? Do we care more about everyone having the same opportunities—or the same outcomes? These questions are at the heart of a growing debate across EU countries, and the Mapineq project set out to understand how attitudes differ between countries, regions, and over time.
Using data from the European Social Survey (2008 and 2016), Esa Karonen (University of Turku) and Ilaria Lievore (UNED) looked at how people feel about equality of opportunity (fair chances for all) and equality of outcome (more equal results for all), and what might explain those views.
A divided Europe
Their results show that attitudes vary not just between countries, but also within them. For example, people in Eastern Europe and the UK tend to value opportunity over outcome, while those in Nordic and Southern European countries are more supportive of reducing outcome gaps. Interestingly, the UK’s views have shifted closer to the European average over time, while countries like Germany have remained steady in the middle ground.
Overall, support for equality of opportunity has declined by around 12 percentage points since 2008, suggesting people may be growing more sceptical about the fairness of current systems. In contrast, views on equality of outcome have stayed more stable, though more divided between regions.
What Shapes Our Views?
Money and politics matter. People with higher incomes or in better jobs are more likely to prefer equality of opportunity over redistributing outcomes. Those on the political left lean more toward policies that promote equality of outcome.
At the regional level, wealthier areas tend to be less supportive of equal outcomes—possibly reflecting a stronger belief in rewarding effort and talent.
Other factors matter too. Women and immigrants were more likely to support both types of equality. Education also plays a role, but its impact depends on income—suggesting that how much people benefit from their education shapes how they think about fairness.
Why it matters
Understanding how people think about equality is key to making policies that feel fair and work across different parts of Europe. While economic conditions clearly influence opinions, the findings in this study also highlight deep cultural and political divides that won’t be solved by economic growth alone.
To build more inclusive societies, we need to recognise these differences—and find common ground in what fairness means to people in very different circumstances.