"Deservingness" and Public Support for Universal Public Goods: A Survey Experiment

Area of Science:

• Political Science
• Behavioral Economics
• Public Policy

Background:

• Voter support for social spending often hinges on perceptions of beneficiary motivation and contribution (e.g., work, taxes).
• The 'deservingness heuristic' typically applies to means-tested programs, but its extension to universal public goods (UPGs) remains less understood.
• Reducing UPG funding to exclude 'unmotivated' individuals paradoxically lowers access for all, including those who personally value the good.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether public perceptions of 'unmotivated' non-contributors influence support for universal public goods (UPGs).
• To examine if the deservingness heuristic extends beyond targeted welfare to universal services like healthcare.

Main Methods:

• A nationally representative survey experiment was conducted in the United Kingdom.
• Participants were randomly assigned to consider users of the National Health Service (NHS) as either 'motivated' or 'unmotivated' non-contributors.
• Support for NHS spending was measured across experimental conditions.

Main Results:

• Respondents showed reduced support for National Health Service (NHS) spending when primed to consider users as 'unmotivated' non-contributors.
• While effect sizes were modest, this indicates a potential bias against perceived non-contributors even in universal systems.
• Overall spending preferences remained relatively high, suggesting the heuristic's impact operates within existing support levels.

Conclusions:

• The deservingness heuristic can shape public attitudes towards government spending on universal programs, not just targeted ones.
• Perceptions of beneficiary motivation, even for universally accessible services, can influence policy preferences.
• Findings highlight the complex interplay between individual attitudes, perceived fairness, and support for public services.