Does economic inequality lead to higher levels of affective polarization between the rich and the poor? We advance two competing theoretical arguments: On the one hand, psychological theories of class conflict assume that inequality accentuates perceptions of individual economic positions, leading to more pronounced class identifications among both low- and high-income people. Consequently, resentment and animosity towards the out-group will increase and affective polarization between the rich and the poor intensifies. On the other hand, since inequality diminishes the material status of the lower socioeconomic classes, political economists hypothesize that rising levels of economic inequality will decrease the class identity among the poor. Consequently, affective polarization should be reduced.
To test these expectations empirically, we conduct survey experiments in Germany, Switzerland and the UK. Respondents are treated with different information on the countries overall level of economic inequality as well as their own position in the income distribution. The results will show to what extent inequality affects hostility between low- and high-income people, thereby undermining mutual respect and dialogue, which are some of the cornerstones of well-functioning democracies.
