Matthew principle

English

Etymology

Named from St Matthew, with reference to Matthew 25:29: "For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath." (KJV)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmæθjuː ˌpɹɪnsɪpəl/

Noun

Matthew principle

1. The notion that more will be given to those that already have.
   • 2002, Will Europe Work?, ed. Martin Kohll & Mojca Novak, Routledge 2002, p.64:

     By including all citizens within the same insurance programs and by providing the economically active with clearly earnings-related benefits, the redistributive strategy of the encompassing model can be said to follow the Matthew principle of giving more to those who already have much.