Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/299999 
Year of Publication: 
2024
Series/Report no.: 
Working Paper Series No. 23
Publisher: 
University of Konstanz, Cluster of Excellence "The Politics of Inequality", Konstanz
Abstract: 
Citizens and politicians rely on their knowledge of a pension system, particularly its redistributive features, when forming their preferences and evaluating its fairness. Taking advantage of the Bismarckian rule of proportionality in Germany, we provide experimental and survey-based evidence indicating that voters and politicians adjust their preferences and perceptions of fairness when new information becomes available. Information on the proportional character of the pension system increases perceived fairness and decreases redistributive demands, whereas information about inequalities in life expectancy between beneficiary groups lowers perceived fairness and increases the demand for redistribution. Both citizens and politicians reject the Bismarckian principle of strict proportionality between lifetime contributions and pension benefits in favor of more redistribution from high to low earners in the retirement phase. Our design utilizes a representative survey of citizens and state politicians in 2020-22.
Subjects: 
public pensions
preferences
redistribution
Germany
elites
JEL: 
H55
D72
D83
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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