A little fairness may induce a lot of redistribution in democracy

Author(s)
Rupert Sausgruber, Jean-Robert Tyran
Abstract

We use a model of self-centered inequality aversion suggested by Fehr and Schmidt (Quart. J. Econom. 114 (3) (1999) 817) to study voting on redistribution. We theoretically identify two classes of conditions when an empirically plausible amount of fairness preferences induces redistribution through referenda. We test the predictions of the adapted inequality aversion model in a simple redistribution experiment and find that it predicts voting outcomes far better than the standard model of voting assuming rationality and strict self-interest.

Organisation(s)
Department of Economics, Vienna Center for Experimental Economics
External organisation(s)
Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien (WU)
Journal
European Economic Review
Volume
50
Pages
469-485
No. of pages
17
ISSN
0014-2921
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2004.09.014
Publication date
2006
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
502045 Behavioural economics, 502024 Public economy
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/a-little-fairness-may-induce-a-lot-of-redistribution-in-democracy(dd794db5-3b89-43c0-8897-9aae10ec2a72).html