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The Consequences of Inequality: Beliefs and Redistributive Preferences

Author

Listed:
  • Max Lobeck

    (Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Action, Germany)

  • Morten Nyborg Støstad

    (Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration - Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration)

Abstract

What matters for individuals' preferences for redistribution? In this paper we show that consequentialist beliefs about inequality-beliefs about how economic inequality changes the crime rate or the quality of democratic institutions, for example-have a large causal impact on individuals' redistributive preferences. Using two representative surveys of a combined 6,731 U.S. citizens, we show that a majority of respondents believe that inequality leads to a wide range of negative societal outcomes. We establish a causal link from such beliefs to individuals' redistributive preferences by using exogenously provided video information treatments. With this and other methods we show that inequality externality beliefs impact redistributive preferences on the same order of magnitude as broad economic fairness views. These inequality externality beliefs are relatively equally held across political affiliations as well as incomes. We discuss whether a focus on inequality's consequences could shape a distinct conversation about redistribution.

Suggested Citation

  • Max Lobeck & Morten Nyborg Støstad, 2023. "The Consequences of Inequality: Beliefs and Redistributive Preferences," Working Papers halshs-04423608, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:halshs-04423608
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-04423608
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    Cited by:

    1. is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Thomas Aronsson & Olof Johansson-Stenman, 2024. "Optimal Taxation and Other-Regarding Preferences," Graz Economics Papers 2024-22, University of Graz, Department of Economics.
    3. Støstad, Morten Nyborg & Cowell, Frank, 2024. "Inequality as an externality: Consequences for tax design," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).
    4. Aronsson, Thomas & Johansson-Stenman, Olof, 2023. "Optimal Taxation and Other-Regarding Preferences," Working Papers in Economics 837, University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics.
    5. Støstad, Morten Nyborg, 2023. "Fairness Beliefs Affect Perceived Economic Inequality," Discussion Paper Series in Economics 22/2023, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Economics.
    6. Abigail Barr & Anna Hochleitner & Silvia Sonderegger, 2023. "Does increasing inequality threaten social stability? Evidence from the lab," Discussion Papers 2023-13, The Centre for Decision Research and Experimental Economics, School of Economics, University of Nottingham.
    7. Ferreira, João V. & Ramoglou, Stratos & Savva, Foivos & Vlassopoulos, Michael, 2024. ""Should CEOs' Salaries Be Capped?" A Survey Experiment on Limitarian Preferences," IZA Discussion Papers 17171, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C83 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Survey Methods; Sampling Methods
    • C90 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - General
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • H20 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - General

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