Sympathy for the Diligent and the Demand for Workfare

摘要: We study the role of fairness concerns in demand for redistribution through workfare. In first part paper, we present new evidence from a survey experiment. show that individuals are more generous towards poor people whom they perceive to be diligent workers relative non-diligent, social preference label sympathy diligent. This is much stronger than preferences regarding other characteristics poor, such as race, nationality, and disability. More important, subjects with higher have workfare programs. second incorporate our empirical findings into model income redistribution. consider case benevolent government prioritizes well-being who exert most effort. characterize optimal conditions under which introduces work requirements. Even if wasteful, requirements can optimal, because allow better distinction between great effort do not. However, lacks commitment power, availability screening leads lower equilibrium and, possibly, Pareto-dominated allocation.