Wealth, Income, and Preferences for Redistribution: Evidence from 30 countries.

This analysis probes the relationship between individuals' preferences for redistribution and their economic self-interest. We analyze personal finance and preferences data from 30 countries included in the 2009 ISSP to analyze whether respondents' personal income, financial wealth, or housing wealth are related to their opinions about economic redistribution, poor aid, and unemployment support. We find evidence of a relationship between income and preferences in English-speaking OECD countries, and between home equity, financial wealth, and preferences in Nordic countries. However, that linkage varies by policy attitude and asset type, and is also non-existent in some countries.