Does inequality make you angry?

Abstract

Our study explores subjective inequality using two different measures. The first one is agreement with the statement that the gap between the rich and the poor is large. The second one is an emotional reaction to this gap in terms of intensity of anger. Using data from the International Social Survey Program (ISSP) for 2019, we show that these measures, though correlated, are not duplicates. The first finding is that respondents are more likely to state significant gaps than to admit a negative emotion related to this fact. The second finding is that these dimensions of subjective inequality are associated with different behavioral reactions. Agreeing that the income gaps are too large correlates with demand for redistribution more strongly than the anger does. As to being angry on the inequality, it is more strongly associated with perception of potential conflicts between the poor and the rich. In other words, even agreeing that income inequality is high many individuals do not internalize it and do not accept it as a problem that touches their emotional health.