Entry:

Haller, Max and Hoellinger, Franz, "Perceptions and Ideologies of Inequality in Advanced Capitalist Societies: A Comparison of Attitudes in Western Germany and the United States," Paper presented to the International Sociological Association, Rome, April, 1986.

Abstract:

In West Germany and the U.S., the meritocratic ideology of equality and opportunity is largely supported with some inconsistencies in the data. Respondents with higher levels of education, occupational position and income, are less supportive of egalitarian social norms and attitudes. The U.S. has gone further toward the realization of meritocratic society. The education-occupation-income nexus in the U.S. is more achievement oriented, while in West Germany this nexus seems to have preserved elements of

GSS Years:

1984

Other Data Sets:

ALLBUS 1984

GSS Codebook Variables referenced by document:
Variable Name	Variable Label

EQUAL1	EVERYONE SHOULD LOOK OUT FOR SELF
EQUAL2	BUSINESS PROFITS BENEFIT ALL
EQUAL3	GOVT SHLD INSURE JOBS AND STABLE PRICES
EQUAL4	RESPONSIBILITY OF GOVT TO MEET NEEDS
EQUAL5	SOCIAL WELFARE BENEFITS ARE DISINCENTIVE
EQUAL6	ONE IS ABLE TO LIVE WELL IN AMERICA
EQUAL7	BUSINESS PROFITS ARE DISTRIBUTED FAIRLY
EQUAL8	SOCIAL STANDING DUE TO ABILITY
USCLASS1	TRADITIONAL CLASS DIVISIONS STILL REMAIN
USCLASS2	ACHIEVEMENT DEPENDS ON FAMILY BACKGROUND
USCLASS3	ACHIEVEMENT DEPENDS ON EDUC AND ABILITY
USCLASS4	ONES OWN EFFORTS DONT COUNT
USCLASS5	PERSONAL INCOME NOT DETERMINED BY WORK
USCLASS6	DIFFERENCES IN CLASS ARE AN INCENTIVE
USCLASS7	DIFFERENCES IN CLASS REFLECT OWN EFFORT
USCLASS8	SOCIAL DIFFERENCES ARE ACCEPTABLE
EDUC	HIGHEST YEAR OF SCHOOL COMPLETED
INCOME	TOTAL FAMILY INCOME
OCC	RS CENSUS OCCUPATION CODE (1970)
ATTEND	HOW OFTEN R ATTENDS RELIGIOUS SERVICES
RELIG	RS RELIGIOUS PREFERENCE
PRESTIGE	RS OCCUPATIONAL PRESTIGE SCORE (1970)
PRES84	VOTE FOR REAGAN OR MONDALE
AGE	AGE OF RESPONDENT