Perceived Economic Inequality and Progressive Taxation: The Moderator Role of Upward Mobility Beliefs

Abstract

Attitudes toward redistribution have been widely studied, yet individuals respond differently to specific policies. Progressive taxation is one of the most effective mechanisms for reducing inequality and fostering more egalitarian societies, but little is known about the psychological factors shaping support for it. People's attitudes toward progressive taxation are influenced by how they perceive the distribution of resources (perceived economic inequality) and the possibility of movement between different socio-economic strata (social mobility). To analyse both processes, we conducted two exploratory cross-sectional studies. Study 1 analysed a representative sample from 29 countries (N = 44,975), and Study 2 examined a stratified Spanish sample (N = 1536). Higher perceived inequality was associated with stronger support for progressive taxation (i.e., higher taxes on the wealthy). However, this relationship weakened when upward mobility was perceived as likely, suggesting that mobility beliefs can temper the influence of inequality on support for redistributive policies.