Dividing a Chocolate Cake:Dividing a Chocolate Cake: The Political Problem of FairnessThe Political Problem of Fairness

N.C. League of Municipalities

2004 Annual Conference October

24-26, Raleigh Convention Center

Phillip Boyle, Leading and Governing Associates

Welcome to Today’s Edition of…Welcome to Today’s Edition of…

Brought to you commercial-free by the N.C. League of Municipalities

““But That’s But That’s Not Fair!”Not Fair!”

How Should We Distribute this How Should We Distribute this Chocolate Cake?Chocolate Cake?

• We want to (or have to) distribute the cake

• We want to distribute it fairly

• One solution is pretty obvious…

““But That’s Not Fair!”But That’s Not Fair!”

1. Equal slices for everyone attending

2. Equal slices for everyone invited

3. Equal slices for equal ranks

4. Unequal slices but equal groups

5. Unequal slices but equal meals

6. Unequal slices but equal value

7. Unequal slices but equal opportunity

8. Unequal slices but equal chances

9. Unequal slices but equal votes

Fairness in Terms of Fairness in Terms of WhoWho

• Attendance – equal slices

• Membership – equal slices

• Rank – equal slices

• Groups – unequal slices

Fairness in Terms of Fairness in Terms of WhatWhat

• Need – unequal slices

• Value – unequal slices

Fairness in Terms of Fairness in Terms of HowHow

• Competition – unequal slices

• Lottery – unequal slices

• Election – unequal slices

Fairness: Equal or Unequal?Fairness: Equal or Unequal?

Equal Slices1. Attendance

2. Invitation

3. Rank

Unequal Slices1. Groups2. Need3. Value4. Competition5. Lottery6. Election

In Conclusion, It’s In Conclusion, It’s FairFair to Say to Say1. Fairness solutions fall into three general

categories: who, what, and how2. Twice as many solutions involve unequal

slices, or treating people differently 3. Treating people fairly means sometimes

treating them the same (equally), and sometimes treating them differently (unequally)

Handout!

Thank You!Thank You!

Phillip Boyle, Leading and Governing Associates

Phone: 919-918-7067 Email: pboyle@leadingandgoverning.com

Web: www.leadingandgoverning.com