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The Construct of Subjective Economic Inequality
Anita Schmalor1, Steven J Heine1
1University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Social Psychological and Personality Science
|December 13, 2021
Summary
Economic inequality impacts society, but perceptions matter. This study explores subjective economic inequality and its psychological effects across different countries, revealing varied correlations.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Economics
- Sociology
Background:
- Economic inequality is linked to social problems, yet research primarily uses objective measures.
- The subjective perception of economic inequality is understudied but crucial for a comprehensive understanding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of subjective economic inequality alongside objective measures.
- To explore the psychological correlates of perceived economic inequality.
- To examine cross-cultural variations in the relationship between subjective inequality and psychological variables.
Main Methods:
- Survey research was conducted on an American sample (N=1,014) and a cross-national sample (N=683) across six countries.
- Data included subjective and objective measures of economic inequality and various psychological variables.
Main Results:
- Key variables correlating with objective inequality also correlated with subjective inequality in the US sample.
- The association between subjective inequality and psychological variables differed significantly across the six countries.
- Subjective inequality exhibited modest correlations with objective inequality and varied based on sociodemographic background.
Conclusions:
- Perceptions of economic inequality are a significant factor influencing social and psychological outcomes.
- Cross-cultural research is essential for understanding the nuanced effects of subjective economic inequality.
- Future research should integrate both objective and subjective measures to fully grasp the impact of economic inequality.
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