Evaluation of distributive (in)justice among young people in central america

Central America is a region characterized by extreme inequality. In this pioneering study, we analyze how 1,501 young Central Americans between the ages of 14 and 24 (M=18.7, SD=3.1, 53.3% women) evaluate the distributive justice of inequality in their country and what predictors can explain these evaluations. With an exploratory and descriptive design, we find that where inequality is least perceived as unfair is in Nicaragua and Costa Rica, followed by Honduras. It is considered most unfair in Guatemala and El Salvador. Among the predictors that increase the evaluation of justice, trust in institutions stands out, and among those that decrease this evaluation, the lack of money to pay for food and housing stands out.