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The Consequences of Inequality: Beliefs and Redistributive Preferences

Author

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  • Lobeck, Max

    (University of Konstanz)

  • Morten.Stostad@nhh.no, Morten Nyborg

    (Dept. of Economics, 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

  • Lobeck, Max & Morten.Stostad@nhh.no, Morten Nyborg, 2023. "The Consequences of Inequality: Beliefs and Redistributive Preferences," Discussion Paper Series in Economics 17/2023, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:nhheco:2023_017
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    Cited by:

    1. Aronsson, Thomas & Johansson-Stenman, Olof, 2023. "Optimal Taxation and Other-Regarding Preferences," Working Papers in Economics 837, University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics.
    2. 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.
    3. Støstad, Morten Nyborg, 2023. "Fairness Beliefs Affect Perceived Economic Inequality," Discussion Paper Series in Economics 22/2023, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Economics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Behavioural economics; inequality; labour economics; public economics;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy

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