Crimes of Inequality? Why Europe's Rich Favor Redistribution Despite Wealth

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.