New research reveals that economic inequality triggers selective solidarity, increasing support for redistribution—but only when benefits favor native citizens.
Cross-National Findings: Survey data linked to socio-economic indicators from advanced industrialized countries shows inequality reinforces communal identity by boosting redistribution preference toward natives while reducing willingness to extend aid to immigrants.
Causal Evidence from Italy: A survey experiment with a nationally representative sample confirms this effect, demonstrating that exposure to economic inequality strengthens ingroup favoritism among citizens.
This widening support gap has significant implications for political discourse:
- It fuels populist radical right parties' platforms advocating welfare restrictions based on native status
- Increases polarization in debates over immigration policy during times of rising inequality
The findings highlight a crucial mechanism connecting economic conditions and ethnic politics that policymakers must consider.
