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Inequality and trust: new evidence from panel data

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  • Guglielmo Barone

    () (Bank of Italy)

  • Sauro Mocetti

    () (Bank of Italy)

Abstract

The relationship between inequality and trust has attracted the interest of many scholars who have found a negative relationship between the two variables. However, the causal link from inequality to trust is far from being identified and the existing empirical evidence admittedly remains weak, as the omitted variable bias, reverse causation and/or measurement error might be at work. In this paper, we reconsider the country-level evidence to address this issue. First, we exploit the panel dimension of the data, thus controlling for any country unobservable time-invariant variables. Second, we provide instrumental variable estimates using the predicted exposure to technological change as an exogenous driver of inequality. According to our findings, income inequality significantly and negatively affects generalised trust. However, this result only holds for developed countries. We also explore new insights on the effects of different dimensions of inequality, exploiting measures of both static inequality � such as the Gini index and top income shares � and dynamic inequality � proxied by intergenerational income mobility.

Suggested Citation

  • Guglielmo Barone & Sauro Mocetti, 2014. "Inequality and trust: new evidence from panel data," Temi di discussione (Economic working papers) 973, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    • Handle: RePEc:bdi:wptemi:td_973_14
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    Blog mentions

    As found by EconAcademics.org, the blog aggregator for Economics research:
    1. Inequality, trust & politics
      by chris in Stumbling and Mumbling on 2016-07-05 17:52:34
    2. Chris Dillow — Inequality, trust & politics
      by contrarianmedia@hotmail.com (Mike Norman) in Mike Norman Economics on 2016-07-05 21:54:00
    3. Neoliberalism & productivity
      by chris in Stumbling and Mumbling on 2017-02-26 19:08:29

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Eric D Gould & Alexander Hijzen, 2016. "Growing Apart, Losing Trust? The Impact of Inequality on Social Capital," IMF Working Papers 16/176, International Monetary Fund.
    2. Dirk Schoenmaker, 2017. "Investing for the common good: a sustainable finance framework," Essays and Lectures 21249, Bruegel.
    3. Bracco, E. & De Paola, M. & Green, C.P., 2015. "Long lasting differences in civic capital: Evidence from a unique immigration event in Italy," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 160-173.
    4. Muhammad Kabir Salihu & Andrea Guariso, 2017. "Rainfall inequality, trust and civil conflict in Nigeria," Working Papers 205618510, Lancaster University Management School, Economics Department.
    5. Mikucka, Malgorzata & Sarracino, Francesco & Dubrow, Joshua K., 2017. "When Does Economic Growth Improve Life Satisfaction? Multilevel Analysis of the Roles of Social Trust and Income Inequality in 46 Countries, 1981–2012," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 447-459.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    trust; inequality; top incomes; intergenerational mobility;

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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