A false divide? Providing information about inequality aligns preferences for redistribution between right- and left-wing voters

Christopher Hoy, Russell Toth () and Nurina Merdikawati ()
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Russell Toth: University of Sydney
Nurina Merdikawati: Australian National University

The Journal of Economic Inequality, 2024, vol. 22, issue 3, No 6, 669-707

Abstract: Abstract Are differences in preferences for redistribution between right- and left-wing voters amplified because of misperceptions of inequality? To address this question, we conduct three nationally representative, randomized survey experiments with 7020 Australians, in which respondents are informed about either the level of national inequality and economic mobility, their position in the national income distribution, or given no information. We show that correcting misperceptions of inequality reduces the gap in support for redistribution between right-wing and left-wing voters by between 21 to 37 percent. This is predominantly due to right-wing voters, who held more inaccurate priors, increasing their support for redistribution.

Keywords: Inequality; Social mobility; Redistribution; Political economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D63 D72 H23 H24 J62 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1007/s10888-023-09609-2

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