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The Emerging Aversion to Inequality: Evidence from Poland 1992-2005

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  • Irena Grosfeld

    ()

  • Claudia Senik

    ()

Abstract

This paper provides an illustration of the changing tolerance for inequality in a context of radical political and economic transformation and rapid economic growth. We focus on the Polish experience of transition and explore self-declared attitudes of the citizens. Using monthly representative surveys of the population, realized by the Polish poll institute (CBOS) from 1992 to 2005, we identify a structural break in the relation between income inequality and subjective evaluation of well-being. The downturn in the tolerance for inequality (1997) coincides with the increasing distrust of political elites.

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Bibliographic Info

Paper provided by William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan in its series William Davidson Institute Working Papers Series with number wp919.

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Length: pages
Date of creation: 01 Apr 2008
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Handle: RePEc:wdi:papers:2008-919

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Keywords: inequality; subjective satisfaction; breakpoint; transition.;

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Citations

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Cited by:
  1. Claudia Senik, 2008. "Direct evidence on income comparisons and their welfare effects," PSE Working Papers halshs-00588023, HAL.
  2. Pauline Grosjean & Frantisek Ricka & Claudia Senik, 2011. "Learning, political attitudes and the crisis in transition countries," Working Papers 140, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Office of the Chief Economist.

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