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Rising income inequality and the relative decline in subjective social status of the working class
[journal article]
Abstract
The declining 'subjective social status' of the low-educated working class has been advanced as a prominent explanation for right-wing populism. The working class has certainly been adversely affected by rising income inequality over the past decades, but we do not actually know if their perceived s... view more
The declining 'subjective social status' of the low-educated working class has been advanced as a prominent explanation for right-wing populism. The working class has certainly been adversely affected by rising income inequality over the past decades, but we do not actually know if their perceived standing in the social hierarchy has declined correspondingly over time. This article examines trends in subjective social status in two 'most likely cases' - Germany and the US - between 1980 and 2018. We find that the subjective social status of the working class has not declined in absolute terms. However, there is evidence for relative status declines for the working class in Germany and substantial within-class heterogeneity in both countries. These findings imply that rising income inequality has a nuanced impact on status perceptions. When assessing the role of subjective social status for political outcomes, longitudinal perspectives that consider both absolute and relative changes seem promising.... view less
Keywords
ALLBUS; difference in income; inequality; social status; subjectivity; working class; Federal Republic of Germany; United States of America; twentieth century; twenty-first century
Classification
General Sociology, Basic Research, General Concepts and History of Sociology, Sociological Theories
Income Policy, Property Policy, Wage Policy
Free Keywords
absolute changes; relative changes; Allgemeine Bevölkerungsumfrage der Sozialwissenschaften ALLBUS - Kumulation 1980-2018 (ZA5274)
Document language
English
Publication Year
2022
Page/Pages
p. 1206-1230
Journal
West European Politics, 45 (2022) 6
Issue topic
Working-Class Politics
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/01402382.2022.2038892
ISSN
1743-9655
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed