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Perceived income positions and attitudes towards EU inequality: A cross-country survey experiment

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  • Bublitz, Elisabeth
  • Wang, Hequn
  • Jäger, Julian
  • Beblo, Miriam
  • Lohmann, Henning

Abstract

We examine the relationship between perceived income positions and attitudes towards inequality at a supranational-level. Conducting a survey in four EU Member States (Germany, Italy, Poland, and Sweden), we confirm that their citizens misperceive their own income position in the EU. Once we account for these misperceptions, we find that those with a lower income rank assess EU income differences as more unjust and are more supportive of an EU minimum wage. When we inform a randomized subsample about their actual income position in the EU, those who learn to be richer than they initially thought assess EU income differences as less unjust. Respondents in Italy, Poland, and to a lesser extent Sweden drive these results whereas income misperceptions of German respondents have opposing effects.

Suggested Citation

  • Bublitz, Elisabeth & Wang, Hequn & Jäger, Julian & Beblo, Miriam & Lohmann, Henning, 2022. "Perceived income positions and attitudes towards EU inequality: A cross-country survey experiment," WiSo-HH Working Paper Series 70, University of Hamburg, Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences, WISO Research Laboratory.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:uhhwps:70
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Bublitz, Elisabeth & Jäger, Julian & Wang, Hequn & Beblo, Miriam & Lohmann, Henning, 2022. "Where do I stand in the EU? Income comparisons and perceptions," WiSo-HH Working Paper Series 66, University of Hamburg, Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences, WISO Research Laboratory.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Income; Misperceptions; Inequality; EU Minimum Wage; European Union; Survey Experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • F55 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Institutional Arrangements

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