Why We Don't Mind the Gap

The Robust Role of Individual Beliefs on Enduring Unequal Income Distribution – Evidence from 34 Countries

Bibliographic Data

ID2299342
AuthorsJoanna Kitsnik (0000-0001-7392-2426, Sophia University, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume22
Issue4
Pages589-630
Publication date2023-09-08
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueComparative Sociology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1569-1322 • E-ISSN: 1569-1330
PublisherWalter de Gruyter GmbH (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1163/15691330-bja10092
OpenAlexW4386753204
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited45

Rising socio-economic inequality has been paired with tolerance of inequality. When explaining individual tolerance of unequal income distribution, contextual factors capturing socio-economic conditions and objective inequality are less important than individual-level values and beliefs about the origins of and reasonings behind the unequal circumstances. These inequality-legitimizing narratives constitute a range of ideas from equal opportunities and individual liberties to egalitarian values and beliefs about the function of meritocracy. Findings from the linear mixed effects models on the cross-sectional data from the Integrated Values Study (2017-2020) on 34 OECD countries support the argument that individuals' agreement with inequality legitimizing narratives predicts higher tolerance of unequal income distribution. However, country-level objective inequality and economic prosperity both fail to directly predict tolerance of unequal incomes. When compared to contextual factors, the acceptance of inequality legitimizing narratives is a significantly better predictor of inequality tolerance

Argument (complex analysis · Demographic economics · Distribution (mathematics · Economic growth · Economic inequality · Economics · Function (biology · Gini coefficient · Income distribution · Income inequality metrics · Inequality · Meritocracy · Narrative · Political science · Positive economics · Prosperity · Sociology · Culture, Economy, and Development Studies · Income, Poverty, and Inequality · Law · Mathematics · Political Philosophy and Ethics · Psychology · Social Psychology

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