Preferences for Redistribution

Alberto Alesina and Paola Giuliano

No 4056, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: This paper discusses what determines the preferences of individuals for redistribution. We review the theoretical literature and provide a framework to incorporate various effects previously studied separately in the literature. We then examine empirical evidence for the US, using the General Social Survey, and for a large set of countries, using the World Values Survey. The paper reviews previously found results and provides several new ones. We emphasize, in particular, the role of historical experiences, cultural factors and personal history as determinants of preferences for equality or tolerance for inequality.

Keywords: preferences; for; redistribution (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H1 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 40 pages
Date: 2009-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cba, nep-cbe, nep-ltv, nep-pub and nep-soc
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (215)

Published - published in: Jess Benhabib, Alberto Bisin, Matthew O. Jackson (eds.): Handbook of Social Economics, Vol. 1A, The Netherlands: North-Holland 2010, 93-131

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Working Paper: Preferences for Redistribution (2009)
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