Broadening Horizons — Stability and Change of Perceptions of Racial Inequality and Attitudes Towards Redistribution in South Africa

Severe inequalities between identity groups, known as horizontal inequalities (HIs), are a major global concern. They impede economic growth, destabilize democracies, and trigger civil wars and other violent intrastate conflicts. HIs are highly persistent and typically require government intervention through group-based redistribution policies. However, such policies can be highly polarizing and provoke societal backlash, making broad public support essential yet difficult to achieve, particularly because many people misperceive the extent and causes of these inequalities. Despite the critical importance of addressing HIs and implementing group-based redistribution, very little is known about how to implement these policies without causing negative societal reactions, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. This project addresses this gap by investigating three interrelated questions: 1) Can correcting misperceptions of HIs increase support for redistribution? 2) How does policy design influence support for redistribution? 3) How does redistribution affect intergroup relations and cooperation? Utilizing highly innovative methodologies, including survey experiments and behavioral games, this project focuses on South Africa, a country with pronounced racial and ethnic disparities, particularly between Black and White South Africans. Thereby, the project provides insights that can improve the implementation of redistributive policies in a socially acceptable manner.