Despite an increasing awareness of income inequality in the US, it continues to widen, in part due to lack of effective redistributive policy. These policies are largely shaped by public opinion, and so it seems necessary to look at underlying patterns of social beliefs and preferences. In the US in particular, wage inequality has been rising since the 1980s, and most Americans agree that the government should do something to reduce the gap. Despite widening income inequality, however, public support for redistribution has stagnated. I argue that alongside other material factors, social norms of racial exclusion and optimism about equal access to social mobility in the US have sown an environment in which public support for redistribution, as a remedy for income inequality, remains low. I then discuss feasible norm-centered policies to promote social justice and cohesion.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Theoretical & Empirical Foundations
3. Norms, Public Opinion, & Policy in the US
4. Policy Prescriptions
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Themes
This paper examines how social norms, specifically those regarding racial exclusion and optimism about social mobility, contribute to the persistence of racial income inequality in the United States by shaping public opinion and limiting support for redistributive policies.
- The influence of social norms on collective choice and policy formation.
- The role of racialized notions of poverty and perceived social mobility in shaping public opinion.
- The reflexive relationship between structural inequality and normative social frameworks.
- Norm-centered policy interventions to promote social justice, solidarity, and equality.
Excerpt from the Book
Norms, Public Opinion, & Policy in the US
Redistribution in the US is consistently lower than in European countries. This asymmetry can only partially be attributed to economic and political factors; norms which instill a sense of optimism in equal social mobility and effect racialized notions of poverty are also important to consider (Alesina, Glaeser, & Sacerdote 2001). Increasingly high levels of income inequality partially stem from low support for redistribution, which is lower among the US public than its European counterparts (Kerr 2011; Alesina et al. 2001) and has stagnated during a period of rising inequality (Ashkok et al. 2015). Americans adhering to this pattern of redistribution aversion (especially conservatives) tend to think that poverty stems from a culture of dependency, rather than structural factors outside of individuals’ control (Fong 2001).
Moreover, institutional racism is governed by racist norms, and creates inaccurate associations between blacks and inherent disadvantage by discretely or indiscreetly assuming black inferiority, thereby justifying the continuation of racial inequalities (Phillips 2011). Such norms have abetted and justified pejorative associations between African-Americans and poverty, and are largely due to lack of direct interaction and shared experiences. For instance, in highly diverse neighborhoods, the lowest levels of trust are found in affluent areas with low interaction among racial groups, whereas trust is much higher in diverse low-income neighborhoods with high intra-group interaction (Sturgis, Brunton-Smith, Read, & Allum 2011).
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter introduces the research focus on how social norms, rather than just material factors, perpetuate racial income inequality in the U.S. by influencing public attitudes toward redistribution.
Theoretical & Empirical Foundations: This chapter critiques traditional liberal and Marxist frameworks and defines social norms as community-based behavioral guidelines that influence policy and individual decision-making.
Norms, Public Opinion, & Policy in the US: This chapter analyzes how racialized perceptions of poverty and over-optimism regarding social mobility create an environment that justifies inequality and reduces public support for welfare programs.
Policy Prescriptions: This chapter suggests that government and civil society can mitigate inequalities by actively promoting inclusive norms, fostering direct inter-group interaction, and restructuring welfare systems.
Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the finding that institutionalized normative patterns reinforce racial income gaps and suggests that policy must account for this "normative underbelly" to achieve social justice.
Keywords
Social norms, racial inequality, earnings, United States, redistribution, public opinion, welfare, social mobility, institutional racism, policy, social justice, income inequality, poverty, behavioral guidelines, collective choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper investigates the role of social norms in legitimating racial inequalities in earnings in the United States, arguing that norms influence public support for redistribution.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
Key themes include the impact of racialized notions of poverty, the belief in equal social mobility, the limitations of traditional economic models, and the potential for norm-centered policies to reduce inequality.
What is the core research question or objective?
The objective is to make a case for the importance of social norms in understanding systemic income gaps, specifically by examining norms of racial exclusion and optimism regarding social mobility.
Which scientific methods or approaches are used?
The author employs a normative approach, synthesizing social science perspectives (utilitarian/rational-choice and sociological) to explain how beliefs and preferences shape policy outcomes.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The body covers theoretical foundations, the interplay between public opinion and welfare policy, the historical context of U.S. income inequality, and potential policy interventions to foster social cohesion.
What characterize the key terms of the paper?
The paper is defined by the intersection of social psychology, political science, and economics, focusing on how internal beliefs (norms) result in macro-level societal outcomes like persistent racial income disparities.
How does the author explain the persistence of racial inequality?
The author argues that inequality persists because existing social norms provide legitimacy to systemic differences, often by blaming minority groups for their own disadvantage rather than acknowledging structural barriers.
What role does 'optimism' play in this context?
The author identifies a widespread, potentially misinformed, "normative optimism" in the U.S. regarding equal opportunity, which leads many to downplay the need for a social safety net.
Are there specific policy recommendations mentioned?
Yes, the author proposes making institutions more inclusive, promoting inter-group interaction in public spaces, and potentially using direct norm management to challenge exclusionary beliefs.
- Quote paper
- Kaia Smith (Author), 2017, The role of social norms in legitimating racial inequalities in earnings in the United States, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/387311
