Information about inequality in early child care reduces polarization in policy preferences
We investigate public preferences for equity-enhancing policies in access to early child care, using a survey experiment with a representative sample of the German population (n≈4,800). We observe strong misperceptions about migrant-native inequalities in early child care that vary by respondents’ a...
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Veröffentlicht in: | Journal of economic behavior & organization 2024-12, Vol.228, p.106780, Article 106780 |
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Format: | Artikel |
Sprache: | eng |
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Zusammenfassung: | We investigate public preferences for equity-enhancing policies in access to early child care, using a survey experiment with a representative sample of the German population (n≈4,800). We observe strong misperceptions about migrant-native inequalities in early child care that vary by respondents’ age and right-wing voting preferences. Randomly providing information about the actual extent of inequalities has a nuanced impact on the support for equity-enhancing policy reforms: it increases support for respondents who initially underestimated these inequalities, and tends to decrease support for those who initially overestimated them. This asymmetric effect leads to a more consensual policy view, substantially decreasing the polarization in policy support between under- and overestimators. Our results suggest that correcting misperceptions can align public policy preferences, potentially leading to less polarized debates about how to address inequalities and discrimination. |
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ISSN: | 0167-2681 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.jebo.2024.106780 |