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Preferences for redistribution : an empirical analysis

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  • Elvire Guillaud

    (CES - Centre d'économie de la Sorbonne - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

People's preferences for state intervention in social policies vary. A cross-section analysis on individual-level survey data is conducted here to highlight the link between the economic position of agents and their specific demand for redistribution. Controlling for a number of factors usually found to affect individual preferences in the literature, the egoistic motives for redistribution are taken seriously and this article focuses on the role played by the occupational status of individuals in shaping their preferences. Thus, the relative importance of economic factors in terms of current and expected gains is estimated, taking into account individuals' experience of social mobility and risk aversion. Furthermore, the research presented here identifies which socio-political groups may be formed on the basis of their preferences for redistribution.

Suggested Citation

  • Elvire Guillaud, 2011. "Preferences for redistribution : an empirical analysis," Post-Print halshs-00594072, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-00594072
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-00594072
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    Cited by:

    1. Elvire Guillaud & Michaël Zemmour, 2017. "The redistributive preferences of the well-off," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) halshs-01652706, HAL.
    2. Armbruster, Stephanie, 2020. "The fair-minded rich and healthy? (Youth) unemployment, inequality and fairness concerns in preferences for redistribution," Working papers 2020/02, Faculty of Business and Economics - University of Basel.
    3. Pfarr, Christian & Schmid, Andreas & Ulrich, Volker, 2013. "You can't always get what you want - East and West Germans' attitudes and preferences regarding the welfare state," MPRA Paper 47240, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Elvire Guillaud & Michaël Zemmour, 2017. "The redistributive preferences of the well-off," Post-Print halshs-01652706, HAL.
    5. Pfarr, Christian, 2012. "Meltzer-Richard and social mobility hypothesis: revisiting the income-redistribution nexus using German choice data," MPRA Paper 43325, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Kristel Jacquier, 2012. "Public Support for European Integration: A comparative analysis," Documents de travail du Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne 12088, Université Panthéon-Sorbonne (Paris 1), Centre d'Economie de la Sorbonne.
    7. Peter Backus & Alejandro Esteller-Moré, 2014. "Is income redistribution a form of insurance, a public good or both?," Working Papers 2014/33, Institut d'Economia de Barcelona (IEB).
    8. Alberto Alesina & Johann Harnoss & Hillel Rapoport, 2021. "Immigration and the Future of the Welfare State in Europe," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 697(1), pages 120-147, September.
    9. Ryo Kambayashi & Sebastien Lechevalier & Thanasak Jenmana, 2020. "Decomposing Preference for Redistribution Beyond the Trans-Atlantic Perspective," PSE Working Papers halshs-02497274, HAL.
    10. Grimalda, Gianluca & Pipke, David, 2021. "Cross-country evidence on the determinants of preferences for redistribution," Kiel Working Papers 2190, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    11. Javier Olivera, 2015. "Preferences for redistribution in Europe," IZA Journal of European Labor Studies, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 4(1), pages 1-18, December.
    12. Kristel Jacquier, 2012. "Public Support for European Integration : A comparative analysis," Post-Print halshs-00768907, HAL.
    13. Eduardo Lora, 2013. "The Distance between Perception and Reality in the Social Domains of Life," Research Department Publications IDB-WP-423, Inter-American Development Bank, Research Department.
    14. Eduardo Lora & Johanna Fajardo, 2013. "Latin American Middle Classes: The Distance Between Perception and Reality," Economía Journal, The Latin American and Caribbean Economic Association - LACEA, vol. 0(Fall 2013), pages 33-60.
    15. Ahlert, Marlies & Pfarr, Christian, 2014. "Attitudes of Germans towards distributive issues in the German health system," MPRA Paper 56881, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    16. Krieger, Tim & Meemann, Christine & Traub, Stefan, 2022. "Inequality, life expectancy, and the intragenerational redistribution puzzle: Some experimental evidence," Discussion Paper Series 2022-02, University of Freiburg, Wilfried Guth Endowed Chair for Constitutional Political Economy and Competition Policy.
    17. Andreea-Oana Iacobuță & Mihaela Ifrim, 2020. "Welfare Mentality as a Challenge to European Sustainable Development. What Role for Youth Inclusion and Institutions?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-25, April.
    18. Kristel Jacquier, 2012. "Public Support for European Integration : A comparative analysis," Université Paris1 Panthéon-Sorbonne (Post-Print and Working Papers) halshs-00768907, HAL.
    19. Hwang, Soo Kyeong, 2020. "Korea's preference for redistribution and the policy decisions," KDI Policy Studies 2019-01, Korea Development Institute (KDI).
    20. Peter Backus & Alejandro Esteller-Moré, 2014. "Is income redistribution a form of insurance, a public good or both?," Working Papers 2014/33, Institut d'Economia de Barcelona (IEB).

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies

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