Unequal Views of Inequality: Cross-National Public Support for State Redistribution, 1985-2010

• In Event: 594 - Section on Political Sociology Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 06. Public Opinion

Abstract

Why is it that some publics are more supportive than others of the state’s role in reducing income inequality levels? While individual level explanations are well understood, the aggregate characteristics influencing public levels of support are not. Previous studies are limited by small numbers of countries, restricted time frames, or both. To address this shortcoming, I create a unique dataset combining survey items asking about the government’s responsibility to reduce income inequality levels from 18 nationally representative surveys from the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) and European Social Survey (ESS). I analyze nation-level influence on public attitudes in 38 OECD and European nations over a 25 year period, from 1985-2010. Results show that although publics have steadily become more supportive of state protection over the past 25 years, most political regimes have had relatively stable levels of support over this time. In addition, increases in inequality and in economic development raise and lower support, respectively. Importantly, nation-level characteristics differentially affect different segments of the population. I find systematic differences in effects between high- and middle-income respondents. Findings from this paper have broad consequences for Political Sociology, as well as for the dynamics of policy responsiveness and political representation.

Author

• Tom VanHeuvelen, Indiana University