"Preferences for Redistribution of Legislators: Survey Evidence from Three Countries"

Co-authored with Matteo F. Ferroni

We analyze original survey data of legislators in Colombia, Italy, and two Pakistani

provinces to study determinants of preferences for redistribution. We examine the

relationship between preferences for redistribution and individual-level variables that

include legislator demographic characteristics, reasons for entering politics, and partisanship. We find that large majorities of legislators in all three countries have pro-redistributive preferences, as do ordinary citizens. Generally, legislators with more pro-social motivations for entering politics are also more favorably inclined towards

redistribution. Partisan affiliations are also strongly and significantly correlated with preferences for redistribution in most places. We interpret these results to suggest that the views of elected representatives about redistribution tend to align with their values and partisanship, and that for these elites, redistributive preferences may be

independent of their social positions.

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