Mikael Persson
@professormpersson.bsky.social
Professor, Political Science, University of Gothenburg
Thanks for sharing our paper!
October 27, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Thanks for sharing our paper!
Power endures not through dramatic shifts, but through the steady accumulation of small advantages that lock the status quo in place. (6)
October 22, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Power endures not through dramatic shifts, but through the steady accumulation of small advantages that lock the status quo in place. (6)
Drawing on data from 43 countries and more than 130 policy issues, we show that high-income citizens’ advantage stems largely from their satisfaction with preserving the status quo. (5)
October 22, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Drawing on data from 43 countries and more than 130 policy issues, we show that high-income citizens’ advantage stems largely from their satisfaction with preserving the status quo. (5)
It is not that high-income citizens are better at achieving policy change, but that they are better at blocking reforms favored by lower-income citizens. (4)
October 22, 2025 at 2:59 PM
It is not that high-income citizens are better at achieving policy change, but that they are better at blocking reforms favored by lower-income citizens. (4)
Using comparative data on opinions and policies, we suggest that this inequality primarily results from status quo bias; asymmetric blocking power drives unequal congruence. (3)
October 22, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Using comparative data on opinions and policies, we suggest that this inequality primarily results from status quo bias; asymmetric blocking power drives unequal congruence. (3)
Research on unequal responsiveness shows that policies tend to align more closely with the preferences of high-income citizens than low-income citizens. (2)
October 22, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Research on unequal responsiveness shows that policies tend to align more closely with the preferences of high-income citizens than low-income citizens. (2)
9/
Signals are interpreted through a lens of class exposure.
Each signal carries has its specific effect.
Economic reasoning is structured, but unequally distributed.
Signals are interpreted through a lens of class exposure.
Each signal carries has its specific effect.
Economic reasoning is structured, but unequally distributed.
June 25, 2025 at 10:24 AM
9/
Signals are interpreted through a lens of class exposure.
Each signal carries has its specific effect.
Economic reasoning is structured, but unequally distributed.
Signals are interpreted through a lens of class exposure.
Each signal carries has its specific effect.
Economic reasoning is structured, but unequally distributed.
8/
Not all voters process signals the same way:
– High-knowledge voters make more accurate and nuanced inferences
– High-income voters place more weight on stock markets
– Labor market position has surprisingly little impact
Not all voters process signals the same way:
– High-knowledge voters make more accurate and nuanced inferences
– High-income voters place more weight on stock markets
– Labor market position has surprisingly little impact
June 25, 2025 at 10:24 AM
8/
Not all voters process signals the same way:
– High-knowledge voters make more accurate and nuanced inferences
– High-income voters place more weight on stock markets
– Labor market position has surprisingly little impact
Not all voters process signals the same way:
– High-knowledge voters make more accurate and nuanced inferences
– High-income voters place more weight on stock markets
– Labor market position has surprisingly little impact
7/
– Inflation strongly affects personal/national evaluations and vote choice
– Unemployment matters for all outcomes, but less consistently
– GDP influences national more than personal assessments
– Stocks influences personal evaluations, but matters less for voting
– Inflation strongly affects personal/national evaluations and vote choice
– Unemployment matters for all outcomes, but less consistently
– GDP influences national more than personal assessments
– Stocks influences personal evaluations, but matters less for voting
June 25, 2025 at 10:24 AM
7/
– Inflation strongly affects personal/national evaluations and vote choice
– Unemployment matters for all outcomes, but less consistently
– GDP influences national more than personal assessments
– Stocks influences personal evaluations, but matters less for voting
– Inflation strongly affects personal/national evaluations and vote choice
– Unemployment matters for all outcomes, but less consistently
– GDP influences national more than personal assessments
– Stocks influences personal evaluations, but matters less for voting
6/
Voters distinguish who benefits and who suffers from different signals:
– Unemployment is seen as hurting the working class
– Inflation is seen as hitting both the working and middle class
– Stock markets are seen as primarily benefiting the rich
– GDP growth broadly positive.
Voters distinguish who benefits and who suffers from different signals:
– Unemployment is seen as hurting the working class
– Inflation is seen as hitting both the working and middle class
– Stock markets are seen as primarily benefiting the rich
– GDP growth broadly positive.
June 25, 2025 at 10:24 AM
6/
Voters distinguish who benefits and who suffers from different signals:
– Unemployment is seen as hurting the working class
– Inflation is seen as hitting both the working and middle class
– Stock markets are seen as primarily benefiting the rich
– GDP growth broadly positive.
Voters distinguish who benefits and who suffers from different signals:
– Unemployment is seen as hurting the working class
– Inflation is seen as hitting both the working and middle class
– Stock markets are seen as primarily benefiting the rich
– GDP growth broadly positive.
5/
Voters have intuitive models of how the economy works. Many apply a “good-begets-good” heuristic:
When one signal improves, others are assumed to follow. But this isn’t always consistent with macroeconomic logic. High-knowledge = more likely to recognize tradeoffs.
Voters have intuitive models of how the economy works. Many apply a “good-begets-good” heuristic:
When one signal improves, others are assumed to follow. But this isn’t always consistent with macroeconomic logic. High-knowledge = more likely to recognize tradeoffs.
June 25, 2025 at 10:24 AM
5/
Voters have intuitive models of how the economy works. Many apply a “good-begets-good” heuristic:
When one signal improves, others are assumed to follow. But this isn’t always consistent with macroeconomic logic. High-knowledge = more likely to recognize tradeoffs.
Voters have intuitive models of how the economy works. Many apply a “good-begets-good” heuristic:
When one signal improves, others are assumed to follow. But this isn’t always consistent with macroeconomic logic. High-knowledge = more likely to recognize tradeoffs.