If not government, then what? A three-part typology of redistributive preferences

Economic inequality is rising or at high levels in many countries across the globe. This has prompted a large, interdisciplinary and international body of research on public demands for government redistribution through income taxes and transfers.

It is typically assumed – but not explicitly tested – that any opposition to government redistribution reflects acceptance of inequality or an individualistic belief in the undeservingness of the poor. We test this assumption directly and add a largely unexamined third possibility (besides government redistribution and individual responsibility): that major institutions and actors in the market sphere should reduce inequality in labor earnings. Using this proposed three-part typology and new measurements of public preferences in high-quality surveys of nearly 50,000 individuals across 34 countries, we find substantial support for this third market option, especially in advanced market economies such as the United States and Switzerland, where support for government redistribution is comparatively low. In contrast, we find the least support across all countries for the idea that inequality levels are acceptable or mainly the responsibility of the poor. Additional original data revealing high public support for specific market-conditioning policies aimed at reducing wage and earnings inequalities further substantiate these findings.

Meet our speakers and chair

Leslie McCall is Presidential Professor of Political Science and Sociology at CUNY and the Associate Director of the Stone Center on Socio-Economic Inequality there. Professor McCall studies public opinion about inequality, opportunity, and related economic and policy issues; trends in earnings and family income inequality; and patterns of intersectional inequality. She is the author of The Undeserving Rich: American Beliefs about Inequality, Opportunity, and Redistribution.

Fran Tonkiss is Professor of Sociology at LSE. Her research and teaching are in the fields of urban and economic sociology. Her work focuses on urban inequalities, urban design and development, social and spatial divisions, and the socio-economic organisation of urban space. She is a member of the editorial boards of the British Journal of Sociology, City and Economy and Society.

More about this event

This event is part of 'The III at 10: New Directions in Inequality Research', a two-day conference celebrating the tenth anniversary of the International Inequalities Institute, taking place on 18-19 September 2025 at LSE.

The International Inequalities Institute at LSE brings together experts from many of the School's departments and centres to lead cutting-edge research focused on understanding why inequalities are escalating in numerous arenas across the world, and to develop critical tools to address these challenges.

LSE holds a wide range of events, covering many of the most controversial issues of the day, and speakers at our events may express views that cause offence. The views expressed by speakers at LSE events do not reflect the position or views of the London School of Economics and Political Science.