Wealth distribution and redistributive preferences: Evidence from a randomized survey experiment

Nicolás Albacete; Pirmin Fessler; Peter Lindner

doi:10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2025.102741

Wealth distribution and redistributive preferences: Evidence from a randomized survey experiment

Nicolás Albacete
, Pirmin Fessler
, Peter Lindner^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Oesterreichische Nationalbank

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract (may include machine translation)

We analyze a large-scale experiment on redistributive preferences using data from the Austrian segment of the Eurosystem Household Finance and Consumption Survey. Austria, characterized by low wealth taxation but high wealth inequality, provides an ideal context. We estimate the causal effect of information about one's wealth rank on preferences for wealth taxation. While the average treatment effect is statistically insignificant, individuals who overestimate their wealth position exhibit a positive response, whereas those who underestimate it show a negative response. The impact of information varies based on prior beliefs, yet the overall effect remains null.

Original language	English
Article number	102741
Number of pages	27
Journal	European Journal of Political Economy
Volume	90
Issue number	Part B
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2025.102741
State	Published - Dec 2025
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Experiment
HFCS
Randomization inference test
Tax preference
Wealth taxation

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10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2025.102741

Cite this

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title = "Wealth distribution and redistributive preferences: Evidence from a randomized survey experiment",

abstract = "We analyze a large-scale experiment on redistributive preferences using data from the Austrian segment of the Eurosystem Household Finance and Consumption Survey. Austria, characterized by low wealth taxation but high wealth inequality, provides an ideal context. We estimate the causal effect of information about one's wealth rank on preferences for wealth taxation. While the average treatment effect is statistically insignificant, individuals who overestimate their wealth position exhibit a positive response, whereas those who underestimate it show a negative response. The impact of information varies based on prior beliefs, yet the overall effect remains null.",

keywords = "Experiment, HFCS, Randomization inference test, Tax preference, Wealth taxation",

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AU - Fessler, Pirmin

AU - Lindner, Peter

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N2 - We analyze a large-scale experiment on redistributive preferences using data from the Austrian segment of the Eurosystem Household Finance and Consumption Survey. Austria, characterized by low wealth taxation but high wealth inequality, provides an ideal context. We estimate the causal effect of information about one's wealth rank on preferences for wealth taxation. While the average treatment effect is statistically insignificant, individuals who overestimate their wealth position exhibit a positive response, whereas those who underestimate it show a negative response. The impact of information varies based on prior beliefs, yet the overall effect remains null.

AB - We analyze a large-scale experiment on redistributive preferences using data from the Austrian segment of the Eurosystem Household Finance and Consumption Survey. Austria, characterized by low wealth taxation but high wealth inequality, provides an ideal context. We estimate the causal effect of information about one's wealth rank on preferences for wealth taxation. While the average treatment effect is statistically insignificant, individuals who overestimate their wealth position exhibit a positive response, whereas those who underestimate it show a negative response. The impact of information varies based on prior beliefs, yet the overall effect remains null.

KW - Experiment

KW - HFCS

KW - Randomization inference test

KW - Tax preference

KW - Wealth taxation

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105014843099

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DO - 10.1016/j.ejpoleco.2025.102741

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JO - European Journal of Political Economy

JF - European Journal of Political Economy

IS - Part B

M1 - 102741

ER -

Wealth distribution and redistributive preferences: Evidence from a randomized survey experiment

Abstract (may include machine translation)

Keywords

Access to Document

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