This paper shows that perceptions of inequality matter for demand for redistribution and investigates how individuals form their perceptions. Using data from the ISSP, we present new evidence on the significant changes of perceptions of inequality for more than 20 countries during the last three decades and how these are not in synch with changes in objective inequality. Rather than indicating misperceptions, these discrepancies reflect a broader view of inequality that for most individuals encompasses poverty, insecurity in the labor markets, availability of public goods in addition to objective income disparities. We then show that these perceptions have much stronger correlation with demand for redistribution than objective inequality, or any of the mentioned contextual variables that mold perceptions. Ideology and self-interest also contribute to demand for redistribution. Much more than those on the left, right-leaning individuals adjust their demand for redistribution in line with their inequality perceptions.

中文翻译：

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我感知所以我要求：不平等观念的形成和再分配的需求

本文表明，对不平等的看法对再分配的需求很重要，并调查了个人如何形成他们的看法。使用来自 ISSP 的数据，我们提供了关于过去 30 年中 20 多个国家对不平等的看法发生重大变化的新证据，以及这些变化与客观不平等的变化是如何不同步的。这些差异并非表明误解，而是反映了对不平等的更广泛看法，对于大多数人来说，这种不平等包括贫困、劳动力市场的不安全感、公共产品的可获得性以及客观的收入差距。然后，我们表明，这些感知与再分配需求的相关性比客观不平等或任何上述塑造感知的上下文变量要强得多。意识形态和自身利益也助长了再分配的需求。与左派相比，右倾个人根据他们对不平等的看法调整他们对再分配的需求。