Expecting equality or efficiency? A factorial survey on the justice perception of regional redistributive policies

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper analyses when the German public perceives the impacts of redistributive place-based policies as more just. Using a factorial survey, we experimentally vary recipient regions and the corresponding funding impacts for the overall state. The results show that strong absolute improvements in economy and living conditions in the whole state lead to significantly higher justice ratings of the hypothetical policy measure. Furthermore, the reduction of state-wide inequality leads to a significant increase in justice ratings, but only when living conditions are affected. Our results indicate that respondents want regional policy measures that provide equal access to public infrastructure for all regions and only target the economy if it promises lasting growth.