Seeing disparity: Marketization and perceived inequality in North Korea

This study explores how market participation is associated with perceptions of economic inequality in North Korea, a tightly controlled authoritarian state. Since the near-collapse of the Public Distribution System in the late 1990 s, informal markets have emerged as a primary source of income for many North Koreans, operating alongside the state-controlled economy. Drawing on survey data from 1,241 North Korean defectors, this research examines the relationship between market participation, perceived inequality, and perceptions of leadership accountability. The findings suggest that individuals engaged in market activities are more likely to perceive economic inequality, possibly because markets provide alternative channels of information through social comparison. Additionally, those who recognize greater inequality tend to attribute economic hardship to the Supreme Leader. These results indicate that marketization, beyond its economic role, may contribute to heightened social awareness and perceptions that challenge the regime’s ideological control. This study contributes to broader discussions on authoritarian resilience, showing that even limited forms of economic liberalization may be associated with declining ideological conformity and increasing demands for accountability.