Despite the large increases in economic inequality since 1970, American survey respondents exhibit no increase in support for redistribution, in contrast to the predictions from standard theories of redistributive preferences. We replicate these results but further demonstrate substantial heterogeneity by demographic groups. In particular, the two groups who have most moved against income redistribution are the elderly and African-Americans, two groups relatively more reliant on it. CONT.
Vivekinan Ashok (Yale), Ilyana Kuziemko (Princeton) & Ebonya Washington (Yale), Brookings Institution