What Do Americans Talk About When They Talk About Income Inequality?

32 Pages Posted: 6 Jul 2016 Last revised: 9 Jul 2016

See all articles by Eunji Kim

Eunji Kim

Vanderbilt University

Rasmus Pedersen

University of Copenhagen

Diana Mutz

University of Pennsylvania - Department of Political Science

Date Written: 2016

Abstract

Rising levels of inequality currently receive a great deal of attention from the mass public. But what do ordinary people have in mind when they talk about inequality? In this study, we use both survey and survey-experimental data to investigate whether Americans understand this highly abstract concept the way that academics have in mind. Results show substantial evidence of misunderstanding, and this helps to explain the relatively weak link between concern about inequality and support for redistributive economic policies.

Keywords: income inequality, public opinion

Suggested Citation

Kim, Eunji and Pedersen, Rasmus and Mutz, Diana, What Do Americans Talk About When They Talk About Income Inequality? (2016). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2805330 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2805330

Eunji Kim (Contact Author)

Vanderbilt University ( email )

2301 Vanderbilt Place
Nashville, TN 37240
United States

Rasmus Pedersen

University of Copenhagen ( email )

Nørregade 10
Copenhagen, København DK-1165
Denmark

Diana Mutz

University of Pennsylvania - Department of Political Science ( email )

Stiteler Hall
Philadelphia, PA 19104
United States

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