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Race and redistribution in the United States: An experimental analysis

Author

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  • Akesson, Jesper
  • Hahn, Robert W.
  • Metcalfe, Robert D.
  • Rasooly, Itzhak

Abstract

Scholars have suggested that White American support for welfare is influenced by their beliefs about the racial composition of welfare recipients. In this paper, we test this hypothesis using two experiments (n=9,775) that induce random variation in participants’ beliefs about the racial distribution of welfare recipients. In both experiments, we obtain evidence that exogenously increasing beliefs about the share of welfare recipients who are Black reduces support for welfare. We also use our experiments to study the effect of ‘priming’ participants to think about race, the accuracy of beliefs about the racial distribution of welfare recipients, and the mechanisms that underpin our results.

Suggested Citation

  • Akesson, Jesper & Hahn, Robert W. & Metcalfe, Robert D. & Rasooly, Itzhak, 2026. "Race and redistribution in the United States: An experimental analysis," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:255:y:2026:i:c:s0047272725002543
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2025.105555
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    2. Pascal Achard & Sigrid Suetens, 2023. "The causal effect of ethnic diversity on support for redistribution and the role of discrimination," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(5), pages 1678-1696, December.
    3. Kashner, Daniel & Stalinski, Mateusz, 2024. "Preempting polarization: An experiment on opinion formation," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    4. Cetre, Sophie & Algan, Yann & Grimalda, Gianluca & Murtin, Fabrice & Pipke, David & Putterman, Louis & Schmidt, Ulrich & Siegerink, Vincent, 2024. "Ethnic bias, economic achievement and trust between large ethnic groups: A study in Germany and the U.S," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 996-1021.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General
    • H0 - Public Economics - - General

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