redistribution
ree-dis-truh-BYOO-shun
/ˌriːdɪstrɪˈbjuːʃn/
The reallocation of income, wealth, or resources across society through policy mechanisms like taxation and welfare.
Implies deliberate state or institutional intervention to balance pre-existing resource allocations.
The story behind the word. Derived from Latin 'tribuere', originally meaning to grant among the Roman tribes. Adding 're-' and 'dis-' creates the modern policy concept of assigning resources again across groups.
Word relationships
- reallocation: Reallocation is a broad term for moving resources; redistribution specifically implies taking from one group to give to another.
- apportionment: Apportionment refers to initial division or distribution, whereas redistribution adjusts an existing setup.
- accumulation: Accumulation is the gathering and concentration of wealth rather than its dispersal.
- retention: Retention keeps wealth with its current possessor without external transfer.
Commonly confused with
- redistribution vs distribution: Distribution is how markets naturally assign income; redistribution is corrective policy intervention on that outcome.
Word family
- redistribute (verb): To distribute again or differently.
- redistributive (adjective): Intended to redistribute resources.
Collocations
- income redistribution
- wealth redistribution
- fiscal redistribution
- resource redistribution
Example sentences
- "Effective income redistribution can mitigate extreme poverty while funding vital national public infrastructure." Fiscal policy
- "Opponents argue that excessive wealth redistribution dampens entrepreneurial investment and innovation." Economic debate
Memory hook
RE-DISTRIBUTE: Giving out the pie DISTRIBUTED once again to make slices fairer. Redistribution reshuffles the economic deck.
When not to use
Do not use for voluntary personal spending or normal market sales transactions.
Fun facts
- The root 'tribuere' also gives us 'tribute', 'tribute band', and 'contribution'.
Related words
Explore more words
distributive, allocation, egalitarian, redress, allocate, restitution
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