How strongly you believe economic outcomes should be equalised across society, or left to vary with individual effort and market forces.
What the two poles mean
Equality
A score toward 0 means you lean strongly toward equality. On this axis, positions near this pole reflect the priorities described above.
Inequality
A score toward 100 means you lean strongly toward inequality. On this axis, positions near this pole reflect the priorities described above.
A common misconception
Scoring toward the inequality end does not mean you are "against fairness". It means you believe differences in outcomes are largely acceptable or deserved — a defensible position about how societies should handle inequality, not a moral failing.
People often read the equality axis as a simple test of compassion. In practice, the question is about mechanism: do you want the state to actively redistribute outcomes, or do you think unequal outcomes are an acceptable signal of different effort, talent and choices? Both views can coexist with genuine concern for the poor; they just disagree on what works.
It also helps to separate the equality axis from your views on poverty relief. Someone can score toward inequality yet strongly support a targeted safety net, while someone scoring toward equality may still oppose heavy-handed redistribution. The axis measures a preference, not a policy programme.
How it relates to the other axes
The equality axis is closely linked to welfare (how much the state should provide) and markets (how freely the economy should operate).
Where you stand
Find out where you stand on this axis — and the other 15 — by taking the 16 Values Test. It is free, anonymous and takes about five minutes.