Seems fair to me…. An Analysis of Social Equity in Disaster Recovery via Public Perception, Representation, and Practitioner Comprehension

Abstract

Social equity has often been the center of academic debate due to a common misunderstanding of fairness and an acceptable definition. Although the discussions are beneficial in developing clarity for scholars regarding social equity in public administration, this research assumes that the need to understand equity can lie within the public’s perception. In the debate over equity, the democratic process is an afterthought but can be a viable addition to the conversation about social equity. As scholars work to develop the idea of equity, the people will have the final say in what equity will be when administered- either by participation or preferred representation. In this research, I utilize disaster recovery literature to administer experiments through surveys to understand how people view social equity and what factors will influence true equity to become an acceptable choice. In addition, I will research what public administrators think about equity and the issues they identify that hinder their ability to implement equity within their community. Overall, the findings reveal more information or options provide people with a higher acceptance of equity. However, the public prefers an equal distribution. Also, the public’s willingness to pay for equity reveals slight leadership preferences when considering trust and program implementation.