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What do the British public think of inequality in health, wealth, and power?

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  • Howarth, David
  • Marteau, Theresa M.
  • Coutts, Adam P.
  • Huppert, Julian L.
  • Pinto, Pedro Ramos

Abstract

Despite the importance of public opinion for policy formation and the political salience of inequality, the public's views about the desirability of equality, not only in health but also in economics and politics, has attracted little attention. We report the results of an on-line survey administered in late 2016 in Great Britain (N = 1667 with a response rate of 35–50%). The survey allowed for testing the sensitivity of public opinion across two other variables: absolute versus relative (everyone should have the same versus inequality should be reduced) and bivariate versus univariate (inequality in one domain is judged in relation to inequality in another versus inequality in a domain is judged independently of other domains). It also allowed examination of how far support for equality in one domain overlaps with support for equality in another.

Suggested Citation

  • Howarth, David & Marteau, Theresa M. & Coutts, Adam P. & Huppert, Julian L. & Pinto, Pedro Ramos, 2019. "What do the British public think of inequality in health, wealth, and power?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 222(C), pages 198-206.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:222:y:2019:i:c:p:198-206
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.01.006
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Reynolds, J.P. & Archer, S. & Pilling, M. & Kenny, M. & Hollands, G.J. & Marteau, T.M., 2019. "Public acceptability of nudging and taxing to reduce consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and food: A population-based survey experiment," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 236(C), pages 1-1.
    2. Dylan Wiwad & Brett Mercier & Michael D Maraun & Angela R Robinson & Paul K Piff & Lara B Aknin & Azim F Shariff, 2019. "The Support for Economic Inequality Scale: Development and adjudication," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(6), pages 1-29, June.

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