The effect of war on redistribution preferences

Alexei Zakharov and Philipp Chapkovski

Journal of Public Economics, 2025, vol. 241, issue C

Abstract: Do wars change preferences for redistributive state policies? We analyze this question using a preregistered survey experiment involving N=3920 respondents in Russia conducted during the Russo-Ukrainian war. The order of questions in the survey was manipulated to remind some respondents of the war before measuring the outcome variables. We find that among individuals who favor the war, the war reminder increases preferences for redistribution. Our two-part design allows us to investigate the channels for this effect; we find that it is partly due to increased trust in the government. We also observe an increase in prosocial preferences among individuals who support the war, but this effect is not associated with the increase in redistribution preferences.

Keywords: Conflict; Preferences for redistribution; Survey experiment; Rally-round-the flag effect; Altruism (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C90 D74 D83 H53 H55 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:241:y:2025:i:c:s0047272724002202

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2024.105284

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