Does trust in government increase support for redistribution? Evidence from randomized survey experiments

Journal article


Peyton, Kyle. (2020). Does trust in government increase support for redistribution? Evidence from randomized survey experiments. American Political Science Review. 114(2), pp. 596-602. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055420000076
AuthorsPeyton, Kyle
Abstract

Why have decades of high and rising inequality in the United States not increased public support for redistribution? An established theory in political science holds that Americans’ distrust of government decreases their support for redistribution, but empirical support draws primarily on regression analyses of national surveys. I discuss the untestable assumptions required for identification with regression modeling and propose an alternative design that uses randomized experiments about political corruption to identify the effect of trust in government on support for redistribution under weaker assumptions. I apply this to three survey experiments and estimate the effects that large, experimentally induced increases in political trust have on support for redistribution. Contrary to theoretical predictions, estimated effects are substantively negligible, statistically indistinguishable from zero, and comparable to estimates from two placebo experiments. I discuss implications for theory building about causes of support for redistribution in an era of rising inequality and eroding confidence in government.

Year2020
JournalAmerican Political Science Review
Journal citation114 (2), pp. 596-602
PublisherCambridge University Press
ISSN0003-0554
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055420000076
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85081560777
Research or scholarlyResearch
Page range596-602
Publisher's version
License
All rights reserved
File Access Level
Controlled
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online09 Mar 2020
Publication process dates
Accepted01 Feb 2020
Deposited03 Jul 2021
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https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8w4yz/does-trust-in-government-increase-support-for-redistribution-evidence-from-randomized-survey-experiments

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