Income Inequality Shapes Who Wants to Fight: A New Look at War Motivation

This study examines citizens' willingness to fight in war using six waves of the World Values Survey. It finds that military motivation varies significantly by income inequality levels and socioeconomic status.

Findings:

• Willingness to fight decreases with country-level income inequality

• Wealthy individuals are more likely to seek alternatives to military service in unequal societies

• Poorer citizens show less variation in fighting willingness across different inequality contexts

Mechanism: These results suggest that high income inequality creates a 'burden sharing' dynamic where the wealthy can avoid direct risks while poorer segments of society bear the burden.

Policy Implications: The findings highlight how economic disparities may influence public support for military action and potentially shape intervention policies in unequal societies.