Perceptions of Economic Distributive Injustice: The Influence of Economic Powerlessness and Causal Attributions for Unemployment in Lesotho

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to examine the influence of the
feelings of economic powerlessness and causal attributions for unemployment on the perceptions of economic distributive injustice of young people, controlling for gender and level of education. The study was based on a survey of 523 undergraduate students, and the data was analysed by means of descriptive, correlation, hierarchical regression and factor analyses. The results indicated that both the feelings of economic powerlessness and external attribution for unemployment were positively and significantly associated with the perceptions of economic distributive injustice. These results are discussed in light of the pressing socio-economic problems in Lesotho.

Keywords: Distributive justice; economic powerlessness; attributions for
unemployment; business exploits; level of education; Lesotho