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Judith Niehues IW-Trends No. 2 25. June 2014 Subjective Perceptions of Inequality and Redistributive Preferences

An International Comparison

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Subjective Perceptions of Inequality and Redistributive Preferences
Judith Niehues IW-Trends No. 2 25. June 2014

Subjective Perceptions of Inequality and Redistributive Preferences

IW-Trends

German Economic Institute (IW) German Economic Institute (IW)

An International Comparison

Views on income inequality and concomitant redistributive preferences are crucial to the design of tax and transfer systems. Although income distribution in Germany, France and Switzerland is very similar, opinions differ widely as to how critically income differences are viewed. This is hardly surprising given that when countries are compared there is almost no connection between the actual distribution of incomes and subjective evaluations of income differentials. In fact, many nationalities assume that the structure of their society is considerably less equitable than it really is. Thus, a factor which far better explains views on distribution is the subjective perception of inequality within a society. Similarly, redistributive preferences are influenced less by actual distribution than by perceived inequality.

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Subjective Perceptions of Inequality and Redistributive Preferences
Judith Niehues IW-Trends No. 2 25. June 2014

Judith Niehues: Subjektive Ungleichheitswahrnehmung und Umverteilungspräferenzen – ein internationaler Vergleich

IW-Trends

German Economic Institute (IW) German Economic Institute (IW)

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Tobias Hentze / Samina Sultan IW-Report No. 60 30. November 2023

Global and European corporate tax reform concepts

The harmonization of corporate taxation at an international level has been on the political agenda for many years. Both the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the European Commission have presented reform projects in this regard, ...

IW

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Maximilian Stockhausen IW-Report No. 58 18. November 2023

IW Distribution Report 2023: Attitudes towards social mobility

Fundamentally linked to the social market economy is the idea that everyone has the opportunity for social advancement, regardless of their social background, and that children should be better off than their parents.

IW

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