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Information about Inequality in Early Child Care Reduces Polarization in Policy Preferences

Author

Listed:
  • Henning Hermes

    (ifo Institute Munich)

  • Philipp Lergetporer

    (Technical University of Munich)

  • Fabian Mierisch

    (Catholic University of Eichstaett-Ingolstadt)

  • Guido Schwerdt

    (University of Konstanz)

  • Simon Wiederhold

    (University of Halle)

Abstract
We investigate public preferences for equity-enhancing policies in access to early child care, using a survey experiment with a representative sample of the German population (n ≈ 4, 800). We observe strong misperceptions about migrant-native inequalities in early child care that vary by respondents’ age and right-wing voting preferences. Randomly providing information about the actual extent of inequalities has a nuanced impact on the support for equity-enhancing policy reforms: it increases support for respondents who initially underestimated these inequalities, and tends to decrease support for those who initially overestimated them. This asymmetric effect leads to a more consensual policy view, substantially decreasing the polarization in policy support between under- and over-estimators. Our results suggest that correcting misperceptions can align public policy preferences, potentially leading to less polarized debates about how to address inequalities and discrimination.

Suggested Citation

  • Henning Hermes & Philipp Lergetporer & Fabian Mierisch & Guido Schwerdt & Simon Wiederhold, 2024. "Information about Inequality in Early Child Care Reduces Polarization in Policy Preferences," Working Papers 2024-021, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    • Handle: RePEc:hka:wpaper:2024-021
    Note: ECI
    as

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    File URL: http://humcap.uchicago.edu/RePEc/hka/wpaper/Hermes_Lergetporer_Mierisch_etal_2024_info-inequ-early-child-care-reduce-polarization.pdf
    File Function: First version, October 5, 2024
    Download Restriction: no
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    policy support; discrimination; survey experiments;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I24 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Education and Inequality
    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • C90 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - General

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