Does support for redistribution mean what we think it means?

Yotam Margalit, Shir Raviv

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

When surveyed, clear majorities express concern about inequality and view the government as responsible for addressing it. Scholars often interpret this view as popular support for redistribution. We question this interpretation, contending that many people have little grasp of what reducing inequality actually entails, and that this disconnect masks important variation in preferences over concrete policies. Using original survey and experimental US data, we provide systematic evidence in line with these conjectures. Furthermore, when asked about more concrete redistributive measures, support for government action changes significantly and aligns more closely with people's self-interest. These findings have implications for how egalitarian policies can be effectively communicated to the public, as well as methodological implications for the study of preferences on redistribution.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)870-878
Number of pages9
JournalPolitical Science Research and Methods
Volume12
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Oct 2024

Keywords

  • experimental evidence
  • public opinion
  • redistributive policy
  • survey methodology

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Political Science and International Relations

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