The Wealth of Nations: International Judgments Regarding Actual and Ideal Resource Distributions

Abstract

How much wealth inequality do people think is ideal, and how does that compare with the inequality they perceive in their society? Recent research on individuals’ judgments about the distribution of national wealth suggests that there are both international commonalties and nation-specific patterns in these cognitions. This review describes several of these major findings and how some of them vary as a function of study methods. The evidence summarized suggests that U.S. participants may underestimate wealth inequality but that this underestimation is not found in many other countries. Additionally, individuals who perceive greater wealth inequality have more negative views of their societies and are more supportive of policies aimed at redistributing resources; these connections, however, have been specific to one method of assessing wealth cognitions. Finally, across nations, assessment methods, and age groups, studies show that individuals prefer a more egalitarian distribution of national wealth than they believe exists.