Open AccessThe attitudes of the economic elite toward social redistribution: the role of self-interest and solidarity
Author(s) -
Jens Peter Frølund Thomsen
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
politica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2246-042X
pISSN - 0105-0710
DOI - 10.7146/politica.v49i2.131261
Subject(s) - elite , redistribution (election) , redistribution of income and wealth , social class , social position , solidarity , social mobility , middle class , politics , political science , social psychology , economics , social change , psychology , economic growth , law , unemployment
Traditional class theories underestimate the ability of welfare institutions to foster support for social redistribution among the economic elite. Analyses show that the economic elite is more opposed to social redistribution than ordinary employees who have no authority in the social division of labor. However, the relationship between economic elite position and attitudes toward social redistribution is relatively weak. Nor is the economic elite instinctively opposed to the political views of the working class – or instinctively in favor of the views of the upper class. The economic elite is both aware of its own interests and supportive of underprivileged groups in society. Finally, the analyses show that personal income mediates the relationship between economic elite position and attitudes toward social redistribution. The empirical analyses are performed on a (postal) class survey fielded in 2015 (n = 1,032).