Perceptions of having less in the U.S. but having more in China are associated with stronger inequality aversion

Abstract

Decades of research predominantly conducted in Western societies reveals that people, especially the less wealthy, are averse to high levels of inequality. However, empirical comparative studies on perceived wealth and inequality aversion across nations are rare. Here, we examine how responses to unequal monetary allocations among those with high or low subjective wealth might differ in the U.S. and China. Four studies reveal that in the U.S. people who perceive themselves as less (versus more) wealthy are more likely to reject unequal allocations—the less wealthy are sensitive to some restoration of equality. Conversely, in China, the wealthy rather than the less wealthy are more prone to reject unequal allocations. We also find some evidence that differences in feelings of deservingness help explain the observed opposing effects of subjective wealth and inequality aversion. Thus, it is plausible that the well-established tendencies of equality restoration observed in Western societies may not necessarily generalize to non-Western societies, especially those societies where differences in income and wealth are more strongly respected, valued, and protected.