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Do we value mobility?

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  • Amiel, Yoram
  • Bernasconi, Michele
  • Cowell, Frank A.
  • Dardanoni, Valentino

Abstract

Is there a trade-off between people's preference for income equality and income mobility? Testing for the existence of such a trade-off is difficult because mobility is a multifaceted concept. We analyse results from a questionnaire experiment based on simple precise concepts of income inequality and income mobility. We fnd no direct trade-off in preference between mobility and equality, but an indirect trade-off, applying when more income mobility can only be obtained at the expense of some income inequality. Mobility preference - but not equality preference - appears to be driven by personal experience of mobility.

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  • Amiel, Yoram & Bernasconi, Michele & Cowell, Frank A. & Dardanoni, Valentino, 2013. "Do we value mobility?," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 58061, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:58061
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    2. Leites, Martín & Rivero, Analía & Salas, Gonzalo, 2024. "The positionality of goods and the positional concern’s origin," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    3. Bérgolo, Marcelo & Burdin, Gabriel & Burone, Santiago & De Rosa, Mauricio & Giaccobasso, Matias & Leites, Martin, 2022. "Dissecting inequality-averse preferences," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 782-802.
    4. Irwan Abdullah & Hasse Jubba & Mustaqim Pabbajah & Intan Permata Sari & Saifuddin Zuhri & Saidin Ernas, 2019. "From Selfism to Indifferentism: Challenges Facing Indonesian Society and Culture, 2015–2045," Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, Richtmann Publishing Ltd, vol. 8, November.
    5. Marcelo Bérgolo & Gabriel Burdín & Santiago Burone & Mauricio de Rosa & Matías Giaccobasso & Martín Leites, 2020. "Dissecting Inequality-Averse Preferences," Documentos de Trabajo (working papers) 20-19, Instituto de Economía - IECON.
    6. Santiago Burone & Martin Leites, 2021. "Self-centered and non-self-centered inequality aversion matter: Evidence from Uruguay based on an experimental survey," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 19(2), pages 265-291, June.

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