System Justification Beliefs and Life Satisfaction. The role of inequality aversion and support for redistribution

Teresa María García Muñoz (), Juliette Milgram Baleix and Omar Odeh Odeh
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Teresa María García Muñoz: University of Granada, Departamento de Métodos Cuantitativos.
Omar Odeh Odeh: Universidad de Granada, Departamento de Teoría e Historia Económica

No 22/15, ThE Papers from Department of Economic Theory and Economic History of the University of Granada.

Abstract: In this study, we rely on subjective attitudes toward inequalities rather than on real measures of inequalities. In particular, we build on a mechanism underlined by social psychology, namely the palliative function of system justification theory, to explain the nexus between perceived inequalities and satisfaction with life in 27 European countries. To do so, we use data from the ninth round of the European Social survey and employ Structural Equations Modeling to construct mediation models. The results show that inequality-justifying beliefs declines inequality aversion and support for redistribution, and enhances life satisfaction, while inequality aversion boosts support for redistribution. As a consequence, there is a positive direct effect of system justifying beliefs on life satisfaction that is exacerbated via the indirect effects through inequality aversion and demand for redistribution. The results for the indirect effects are consistent with the ‘palliative function’ hypothesis, but their quantitative impacts are very small.

Keywords: System Justification Theory; Subjective Well-Being; Aversion for Inequality; Palliative Function. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D63 I3 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 45 pages
Date: 2022-10-27
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eur, nep-hap and nep-ltv
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