Income inequalities and attitudes toward them in rural and urban areas in Poland during 1988–2019
Abstract
Objective
The study’s primary goal is to assess the relationship between income inequalities and attitudes toward them in various categories of localities in terms of population during 1988–2019.
Research design & methods
The study uses data on inequalities from the cyclical survey of household budgets (aggregated data of the Central Statistical Office) and attitudes toward inequality from the Polish Panel Survey (POLPAN database – individual data). Statistical methods were used, such as descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests. The period from 1988 to 2019 was analyzed. The analyses were carried out by city category according to the number of inhabitants.
Findings
Trends in inequality differ between rural and urban areas, but between 2006 and 2019, there was a reduction in the average income of each class of locality. The concern about inequality in Poland is consistent with current trends in the extent of inequality but not the preferences for redistribution. Concerns about inequalities and preferences regarding redistribution policies vary considerably across classes of locality and intensify over time. Aversion to inequality during 1988–2018 was generally inversely proportional to the size of the town where the respondent lived.
Originality/value
The article provides knowledge about income inequalities and attitudes toward them, broken down by locality classes and their mutual relations. It is a starting point for formulating research hypotheses for socio-economic policy in the field of income redistribution.
© 2026 Urszula Markowska-Przybyła, published by Warsaw School of Economics
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