Exposure to rising inequality shapes Americans’ opportunity beliefs and policy support

Abstract

Economic inequality has been on the rise in the United States since the 1980s and by some measures stands at levels not seen since before the Great Depression. Although the strikingly high and rising level of economic inequality in the nation has alarmed scholars, pundits, and elected officials alike, research across the social sciences repeatedly concludes that Americans are largely unconcerned about it. Considerable research has documented, for instance, the important role of psychological processes, such as system justification and American Dream ideology, in engendering Americans’ relative insensitivity to economic inequality. The present work offers, and reports experimental tests of, a different perspective—the opportunity model of beliefs about economic inequality. Specifically, two convenience samples (study 1, n = 480; and study 2, n = 1,305) and one representative sample (study 3, n = 1,501) of American adults were exposed to information about rising economic inequality in the United States (or control information) and then asked about their beliefs regarding the roles of structural (e.g., being born wealthy) and individual (e.g., hard work) factors in getting ahead in society (i.e., opportunity beliefs). They then responded to policy questions regarding the roles of business and government actors in reducing economic inequality. Rather than revealing insensitivity to rising inequality, the results suggest that rising economic inequality in contemporary society can spark skepticism about the existence of economic opportunity in society that, in turn, may motivate support for policies designed to redress economic inequality.

Class Attitudes, Political Knowledge, and Support for Redistribution in an Era of Inequality

“…At the very least, politicians would find it more difficult to enact inegalitarian policies, for example, tax cuts for the rich and for large corporations. Political knowledge is not a panacea, 13 Some find large effects (Boudreau and MacKenzie, 2018;McCall, 2017), with information about inequality increasing support for progressive taxation and decreasing belief in economic meritocracy. Others find smaller effects , with this information increasing concern about inequality, but only minimally increasing support for government spending and taxation.…”

Going Easy and Going After: Building Inspections and the Selective Allocation of Code Violations

“…11 Inspectors' cognizance of this history does not guarantee that they would change their actions. Although Americans tend to underestimate racial disparities in economic inequality (Kraus et al 2017), deeper or more accurate understandings of racism and inequality seem to prompt varying effects on people's actions and their support for redistributive or antidiscrimination policies (Bobo and Kluegel 1997;McCall 2013;McCall et al 2017). 12 Inspectors are more likely to be called to these properties with rental units than single-family homes.…”

“…24 Studies show how neighborhood associations, elected officials, and homeowners assume tenants are not invested in the neighborhoods in which they live, do not contribute to collective efficacy, and thus link renters to increases in crime and disorder and decreases in property values (see McCabe 2016). 25 This may not be the case, as cognizance of racism and inequality prompt varying effects on how people act (Bobo and Kluegel 1997;McCall 2013;McCall et al 2017). 26 A national report on Buildings Departments states that 85 percent of inspectors are over 45, most began their careers in construction trades, and three quarters do not have a bachelor's degree (International Code Council, 2014).…”

“…), deeper or more accurate understandings of racism and inequality seem to prompt varying effects on people's actions and their support for redistributive or antidiscrimination policies (Bobo and Kluegel ; McCall ; McCall et al. ).…”

“…This may not be the case, as cognizance of racism and inequality prompt varying effects on how people act (Bobo and Kluegel ; McCall ; McCall et al. ).…”