TY - JOUR
T1 - Perceived position on the social ladder and redistributive preferences – A survey experiment from the Kyrgyz Republic
AU - Gassmann, Franziska
AU - Timár, Eszter
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Authors
PY - 2024/1
Y1 - 2024/1
N2 - Prior research has established that both perceived and actual inequality matter for redistributive preferences. Hence, misconceptions can alter public demand for government intervention. Survey experiments have found systematic biases in people's inequality perceptions and found that, in some contexts, the provision of correct information may alter their preferences for redistribution. This literature has, however, centered around high-income, Western nations. This paper uses an experimental survey design to understand the effect of perceived poverty and inequality on the preferences for redistribution in the Kyrgyz Republic. Using primary survey data collected from 2000 households, we first analyze the attitudes of different socio-economic groups towards the poor and the extent to which attitudes predict preferences for redistributive policies. Secondly, we focus on how the perceived socio-economic position influences support for redistribution. Finally, using an experimental survey design, we estimate the effect of correcting misconceptions about individuals' socio-economic position on the support for redistribution. We find that the relationships between poverty attitudes and demand for government redistribution is similar to a high-income, Western context. Overall, demand for redistribution remains robust to new information about the position in the income distribution. The correction of biased perceptions only altered stated preferences for people with specific already-held beliefs.
AB - Prior research has established that both perceived and actual inequality matter for redistributive preferences. Hence, misconceptions can alter public demand for government intervention. Survey experiments have found systematic biases in people's inequality perceptions and found that, in some contexts, the provision of correct information may alter their preferences for redistribution. This literature has, however, centered around high-income, Western nations. This paper uses an experimental survey design to understand the effect of perceived poverty and inequality on the preferences for redistribution in the Kyrgyz Republic. Using primary survey data collected from 2000 households, we first analyze the attitudes of different socio-economic groups towards the poor and the extent to which attitudes predict preferences for redistributive policies. Secondly, we focus on how the perceived socio-economic position influences support for redistribution. Finally, using an experimental survey design, we estimate the effect of correcting misconceptions about individuals' socio-economic position on the support for redistribution. We find that the relationships between poverty attitudes and demand for government redistribution is similar to a high-income, Western context. Overall, demand for redistribution remains robust to new information about the position in the income distribution. The correction of biased perceptions only altered stated preferences for people with specific already-held beliefs.
KW - Central asia
KW - Perceived inequality
KW - Poverty attitudes
KW - Preferences for redistribution
KW - Survey experiment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85179164179&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2023.102496
DO - 10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2023.102496
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85179164179
SN - 0176-2680
VL - 81
JO - European Journal of Political Economy
JF - European Journal of Political Economy
M1 - 102496
ER -