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I don't know about the UK (where this study is based), but wealth distribution in the US is extremely top-heavy [1], and there are a bunch of surveys showing th
by 0xcde4c3db 5y ago
I don't know about the UK (where this study is based), but wealth distribution in the US is extremely top-heavy [1], and there are a bunch of surveys showing that most people drastically underestimate the inequality [2]. I think it's hard to predict the political effect because a lot of people have these unrealistic ideas of how income and wealth are distributed, and it's not obvious how durable those misconceptions would be in the face of a concrete redistribution policy. That is, how many people would still believe that the policy is bad for them if they could go to the IRS website and be told they're getting a bunch of money?
[1] https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2011/mar/10/michael-moore/michael-moore-says-400-americans-have-more-wealth-/ https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2011/mar/10/michael-mo...
[2] https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130395070 https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130395...
- Maarten88 5y agoThis is the genius of what the top 1% in the US have accomplished: they have convinced almost half of the population to take their side, against their own interest, by making them feel they are part of the upper class when they are actually not, or think they will somehow get rich shortly ("temporarily embarrassed millionaires") or that redistribution is for the weak, who do not deserve it and should work harder.