This article examines the relationship between income and support for redistribution in Latin America.
Data & Methods: Uses existing public opinion data from multiple Latin American countries alongside original survey data from Colombia.
Key Findings: Income inequality is extreme across these nations, yet redistributive preferences remain lower than expected. This "truncation" occurs because welfare systems fail to effectively reach the poor—characterized by limited assistance for formal workers, disproportionate subsidies favoring better-off groups (often flat or regressive), and substantial informal barriers.
Mechanism: The resulting exclusion breeds widespread skepticism among poverty-stricken populations about receiving benefits from redistribution. This contrasts sharply with advanced industrial economies where social spending demonstrably aids the poor.
Contrary Assumption: Challenging conventional political economy models, this article argues that welfare state gaps do not fuel demands for more redistribution; rather, they dampen expectations and support.
Reforms Needed: Strengthening redistributive coalitions requires targeted reforms to enhance social policy inclusion.
