scholarly journals How Social Class Shapes Attitudes on Economic Inequality: The Competing Forces of Self-Interest and Legitimation

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josh Curtis ◽  
Robert Andersen

Abstract:Using survey data from the World Values Survey (WVS) and national-level statistics from various official sources, we explore how attitudes toward economic inequality are shaped by economic conditions across 24 Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Consistent with the economic self-interest thesis, we find that where income inequality is low, those in lower economic positions tend to be less likely than those in higher economic positions to favor it being increased. On the other hand, where economic resources are highly unequally distributed, the adverse effects of inequality climb the class ladder, resulting in the middle classes being just as likely as the working class to favor a reduction in inequality. Our results further suggest that people tend to see current levels of inequality as legitimate, regardless of their own economic position, but nonetheless desire economic change—i.e., they would like to see inequality reduced—if they perceive it could improve their own economic situation.

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 250-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rena C Zito

This study draws on insights from institutional anomie theory to examine justification of morally dubious behavior and violence cross-nationally. Further, it builds on a burgeoning body of multilevel institutional anomie theory and research on crime-relevant attitudes by considering whether and how individual financial hardship intersects with anomic structural and cultural systems at the national level, acknowledging that individual responses to anomie may be contingent upon experiences with such hardships. Results from multilevel modeling using data from 74,930 World Values Survey respondents in 52 nations, the World Bank, and other organizations provide partial support for the hypotheses. Specifically, conditions of “want amid plenty,” (Bjerregaard & Cochran, 2008a, p. 183) weakened family and education institutions, and monetary fetishism predict justifications cross-nationally. Moreover, economic inequality and individualism moderate the effect of financial hardship on justifications of morally dubious actions and violence, consistent with expectations.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J. Easterbrook

In this review, I provide an overview of the literature investigating the social psychology of economic inequality, focusing on individuals’ understandings, perceptions, and reactions to inequality. I begin by describing different ways of measuring perceptions of inequality, and conclude that absolute measures—which ask respondents to estimate inequality in more concrete terms—tend to be more useful and accurate than relative measures. I then describe how people understand inequality, highlighting the roles of cognitive heuristics, accessibility of information, self-interest, and context and culture. I review the evidence regarding how people react to inequality, suggesting that inequality is associated with higher well-being in developing nations but lower well-being in developed nations, mostly because of hopes or fears for the future. The evidence from developed nations suggests that inequality increases individuals’ concerns about status and economic resources, increases their perception that the social world is competitive and individualistic, and erodes their faith in others, political systems, and democracy in general.


2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 683-706 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Nový ◽  
Michael L Smith ◽  
Tomáš Katrňák

Inglehart’s theory of postmaterialism hinged on the scarcity hypothesis, according to which the spread of postmaterialist values depends on the degree of individuals’ and societies’ existential security, rooted in macro-level economic conditions. But does a country’s level of economic development systematically shape individuals’ existential security, and thus postmaterialism? In this article, the authors revisit this question by utilizing 2010–2014 World Values Survey data for testing whether the effect of existential security on postmaterialism varies by macro-conditions across 59 countries representing 72% of the world’s population. Based on multilevel models, the authors find strong effects of individuals’ socioeconomic conditions on postmaterialism, confirming one aspect of the scarcity hypothesis, but also find weak associations between the effects of those conditions by economic factors at the national level. While there is substantial cross-national variation in the effect of individual scarcity, that variation cannot be accounted for by the macro-conditions predicted by the theory.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 29-48
Author(s):  
Henrique Carlos De Oliveira De Castro ◽  
Daniel Capistrano ◽  
Sonia Ranincheski ◽  
Elvis Bisong Tambe

The literature concerning human values change, argues the main factor driving increasing levels of secularization and self-expression is the improvement of material conditions. In fact, studies succeeded to present evidence of the strong relationship between GDP and post-materialist attitudes at the national level. Still, in this study, we demonstrate this relationship is not as strong in Latin America. Based on the theory of mass-elite convergence of values, we argue that the main factor driving value change in Latin America is globalisation and not economic development. With globalisation, attitudes and values hitherto exclusive to the elites became socially desirable and praised (chic) resulting in their massive dissemination. Using data from the World Values Survey, we confirm that variables related to material conditions are the best predictor for secularization and self-expression among Western European countries. However, in Latin America, the effects of economic development are weaker, and the evidence indicates that variables related to social globalisation are more important to explain value change patterns.


2012 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 594-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Milligan

Abstract Using multilevel models fitted to data from the World Values Survey and national statistics for 22 countries, this paper explores the relationship between both economic inequality and poverty – both across and within nations – and ethnic and religious tolerance. Consistent with previous research, the results demonstrate a positive relationship between individual-level incomes and tolerance. The results also provide contextual modifications to aspects of Inglehart’s (1987) post-materialist thesis by showing that while tolerance is positively associated with national-level economic prosperity, the relationship is stronger for higher income earners than for those who earn less. Finally, the study also contributes an entirely new finding regarding the influence of poverty on tolerance. Specifically, tolerance tends to be highest in countries with low poverty levels. This finding holds for people throughout the income distribution. The paper concludes with a discussion of the policy implications of these findings.


2009 ◽  
pp. 4-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Zamaraev ◽  
A. Kiyutsevskaya ◽  
A. Nazarova ◽  
E. Sukhanov

The article analyzes the current economic conditions in Russia. Succession, distribution and the transmission mechanism of the world financial and economic crisis to the Russian economy are considered in this article as well as the changes in the banking system, share and housing markets. Production, consumption and investment on the boundary of 2008-2009 are described. The conclusion about the basic change of conditions of national economy development is presented.


2015 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-164
Author(s):  
Adam Okulicz-Kozaryn

Freedom and life satisfaction are desirable conditions and they both have a special meaning in Eastern Europe — transition was largely about gaining freedom and ultimately overall wellbeing. There are several studies about the effect of freedom on life satisfaction, but none of them focuses on Eastern Europe. I investigate the effect of self-reported freedom on life satisfaction in post-transition Eastern Europe using the World Values Survey. Surprisingly, East Europeans feel less free and less satisfied with their lives than other nationals. But a personal feeling of freedom increases their life satisfaction at a higher rate than in other countries. Freedom is a strong predictor of life satisfaction as compared to national income.


2018 ◽  
pp. 38-74
Author(s):  
Barry Rider

This article is focused on exploration not merely proposed developments in and refinements of the law and its administration, but the very significant role that financial intelligence can and should play in protecting our societies. It is the contention of the author that the intelligence community at large and in particular financial intelligence units have an important role to play in protecting our economies and ensuring confidence is maintained in our financial institutions and markets. In this article the author considers a number of issues pertinent to the advancement of integrity and in particular the interdiction of corruption to some degree from the perspective of Africa. The potential for Africa as a player in the world economy is enormous. So far, the ambiguous inheritance of rapacious empires and the turmoil of self-dealing elites in post-colonial times has successfully obscured and undermined this potential. Indeed, such has been the mismanagement, selfishness and importuning that many have grave doubts as to the ability of many states to achieve an ordered transition to what they could and should be. South Africa is perhaps the best example of a society that while avoiding the catastrophe that its recent past predicted, remains racked by corruption and mismanagement. That there is the will in many parts of the continent to further stability and security by addressing the cancer of corruption, the reality is that few have remained or been allowed to remain steadfast in their mission and all have been frustrated by political self-interest and lack of resources. The key might be education and inter-generational change as it has been in other parts of the world, but only an optimist would see this coming any time soon – there is too much vested interest inside and outside Africa in keeping things much as they are! The author focuses not so much on attempting to perfect the letter of the law, but rather on improving the ways in which we administer it.


Author(s):  
حسن بن إبراهيم الهنداوي (Hassan Hendawi)

الملخّصإنّ الفقر والإملاق من المشكلات الرئيسة التي يواجهها العالم اليوم، ومن أسبابها ندرة الموارد الاقتصادية الشديدة وندرة الغذاء والماء. فندرة الموارد وقلتها كانت ذات أثر مباشر في قتل الملايين من الأنفس البشريّة. وتعدّ ندرة الموارد عند الاقتصاديين الخطر الأساس الذي يهدد الوجود البشري في هذا العصر. ويعتبرها الاقتصاديّون كذلك معضلة اقتصادية ناتجة عن رغبات الإنسان غير المتناهية مقابل موارد محدودة ومتناهية. ومن الأمور التي يقترحها الاقتصاديون من اجل التغلب على هذه المشكلة أن النّاسن ينبغي عليهم أن يختاروا الموارد الضرورية والحاجية لتلبية رغباتهم. فمفهوم الندرة من منظور الاقتصاد التقليدي يعني موارد محدودة في العالم مقابل حاجات ورغبات غير محدودة. وسبب ذلك عند الاقتصاديين أن الطبيعة لا توفر موارد كافية لتلبية حاجات الناس ورغباتهم غير المتناهية. ونظرة الإسلام التي يمثلها القرآن الكريم والسنة النبوية الشريفة لمسألة الندرة نظرة مختلفة تماما عن نظرة الاقتصاد التقليدي. ويعنى هذا البحث ببيان أن الندرة ليست مشكلة الطبيعة التس سخّرها الله تعالى للإنسان،  ولكن المشكلة في أخلاقيات الناس وتصرفاتهم في الموارد الطبيعية وطريقتهم في الانتفاع بها التي أدت إلى إدخال الضرر والفساد على الموارد الموجودة.الكلمات المفتاحية: الإسلام، ندرة الموارد، الاقتصاد المعاصر، الموارد الطبيعية، الطبيعة. **************************************               AbstractAmong the main problems that the world is facing today are poverty and destitution caused by severe scarcity of economic resources and the scarcity of food and water. The lack of resources has already caused the death of millions of human beings. The scarcity of resources is counted by economists as the primary danger that threatens the human existence. Economists also consider it an economic dilemma caused by infinite human desires against limited and finite resources. In order to overcome this problem among the suggestions made by economists is that human beings should choose only necessary resources to satisfy their desires. The conventional concept of scarcity is that the resources in the world are limited vis-à-vis the unlimited human needs and desires. The reason for that according to economists is that the nature does not provide sufficient resources to meet people’s endless needs and desires. Islamic approach as represented by the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah to the issue of scarcity is essentially different from the conventional viewpoint of economists. This paper proposes and explains that the problem is not in the nature which Allah has made subservient to man, but it is in the ethics of the people and their behaviour and way of utilization of natural resources, which ultimately damage and corrupt the available resources.Keywords: Islam, Scarcity of Resources, Modern Economy, Environmental Resources, Nature.


Author(s):  
В.Н. СУРОВЦЕВ ◽  
Е.Н. ПАЮРОВА

Проанализированы проблемы на рынке молока и молочных продуктов России в условиях глобального экономического кризиса: перепроизводство молока в основных странах-экспортерах, снижение закупочных цен на сырое молоко, снижение цен на биржевые товары в мире и России в 2020 году, тренд на уменьшение спроса на молочные продукты на мировом рынке в среднесрочном периоде, снижение общего спроса на молочные продукты на внутрироссийском рынке при падении реальных доходов населения, изменение структуры потребления. Проведена оценка новых возможностей и угроз для развития отрасли: со стороны потребителей — рост цен на продовольствие, снижение доходов; с позиции производителей молока — снижение закупочных цен, рост требований к сырью для производства продукции с увеличенными сроками годности, дефицит рабочей силы, вероятное сокращение господдержки в результате снижения цен на углеводороды, попытки регулирования цен; со стороны перерабатывающих предприятий — сокращение спроса, снижение цен на готовую продукцию вслед за мировыми ценами. Обоснованы приоритеты инвестирования в молочном скотоводстве и основные формы совершенствования государственной поддержки отрасли, обеспечивающие эффективную адаптацию производителей молока к новым экономическим условиям, повышение устойчивости отрасли при усилении макроэкономических рисков. The article analyzes the problems in the Russian milk and dairy products market in the context of the global economic crisis: overproduction of milk in the main exporting countries, lower purchase prices for raw milk, lower prices for commodities in the world and in Russia in 2020, trend to reduce demand for dairy products on the world market in medium term, a decrease in total demand for dairy products in the Russian market with a decrease in the purchasing power of the population, a change in the structure of consumption. An assessment of new opportunities and threats to the development of the industry was carried out: on the part of consumers — rising food prices, lower incomes; from the perspective of dairy producers — reduction in purchase prices, increased requirements for raw materials for the production of products with extended periods, labor shortages, the likely reduction in state support as a result of lower prices for hydrocarbons, attempts to regulate prices; on the part of processing enterprises — reduction of demand, reduction of prices for finished goods following world prices. The investment priorities in dairy cattle breeding and the main forms of improving state support for the industry, ensuring the effective adaptation of milk producers to new economic conditions, increasing the sustainability of the industry with increasing macroeconomic risks, are substantiated.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document