Why do people support—or reject—policies that redistribute wealth? This study examines the role of anomie: the feeling that society’s social and political fabric is breaking down. Across studies in the United States and the United Kingdom, the researchers found that perceptions of societal breakdown do not simply push people in one political direction. Instead, they create two opposing reactions.

On one hand, when people feel that society is deteriorating, they become more likely to want drastic change. This can increase support for wealth redistribution, including policies such as wealth taxes. On the other hand, the same feeling of breakdown can also make people more worried that governments would misuse redistributed resources. This distrust can reduce support for redistribution.

A final experiment using a fictional society showed that these processes are not just correlations: exposure to a society described as unstable and mistrustful increased both the desire for major change and concerns about government misuse. The findings show why debates about inequality are often emotionally and politically complex. People may want a fairer system, while also doubting whether existing institutions can deliver it.

Kirkland, K., Klebl, C., Elbæk, C. T., & Jetten, J. (2026). Perceptions of anomie in society shape support for wealth redistribution. British Journal of Social Psychology, 65, e70067. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.70067