In Western Europe, redistribution preferences starkly differ between rich and poor countries.
Crime & Security
- The rich in more unequal regions are significantly more supportive of redistribution than those in equal areas.
- Their support stems from a heightened fear of crime rather than direct concerns about taxation or transfers.
Policy Implications
- Economic policies should account for the security-driven motivations behind redistributive preferences among affluent citizens.
This finding challenges existing models by demonstrating that relative income effects on redistribution are less pronounced when inequality is high.
