Zero-sum beliefs, political views, and life satisfaction in a rich country

This paper examines the relationship between zero-sum thinking, political views, and individual well-being in Switzerland. Zero-sum thinking refers to the belief that resources are finite, and that one person’s gain must come at the expense of another. Using survey data from over 11,000 individuals, we document that this mindset seems to be widespread and cannot easily be traced to specific demographic groups in the population. It is rather prevalent across the political spectrum, but slightly more so towards the political left. Beyond their political orientation, individuals with a stronger zero-sum belief support capitalism less, believe less in the idea of trickle-down and meritocracy, and at the same time support the idea that inequality is too high in Switzerland, and that there should be more redistribution. Finally, we observe that these individuals report, on average, a lower level of life satisfaction, shedding light on the potential personal and social implications of this mindset.