Score contribution per author:
α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count
We present questionnaire studies concerning equity judgments based on an axiom that underlies Rawls's difference principle. Our investigation, spanning over a period of fifteen years, was run at German, Austrian and Slovenian universities. We also modified two of our basic scenarios to check for responsibility aspects. Additionally, we included information on socio‐demographic characteristics of respondents in a probit model. Answers depend on cultural environments, but results indicate some convergence over time. Responsibility considerations are important if they can be attributed to particular persons. Although overall explanatory power of demographic attributes is low, we observe significant gender differences.