My Poor Friend: Financial Distress in One’s Social Network, the Perceived Power of the Rich, and Support for Redistribution

• Published in: The Journal of politics 2014-01, Vol.76 (1), p.126-138
• Main Author: Newman, Benjamin J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Attitudes; Bias; Democracy; Economic hardship; Economic impact; Economic Policy; Economic research; Economic systems; Friendship; Income inequality; Income redistribution; Network Analysis; Policy Networks; Political attitudes; Political Economy; Political Finance; Political influence; Political power; Public opinion; Regression Analysis; Social networking; Social Networks
• ISSN: 0022-3816; 1468-2508
• DOI: 10.1017/S0022381613001138

In exploring the impact of economic problems on public opinion, scholarship has nearly exclusively focused on personal and national economic experiences. At present, little to no research analyzes the impact of economic distress within one’s social network on an individual’s attitudes. Drawing upon network and contact theories, it is argued that financial hardship experienced vicariously through one’s friends should influence an individual’s views about the political economy, and ultimately, their economic policy preferences, such as support for redistribution. Utilizing national survey data, this article demonstrates that having economically distressed friends heightens perceived class-based bias in the political system—namely, that the rich have undue influence over politics. Further, moderated regression analysis reveals that this effect depends upon the prevalence of political discussion within one’s friendship network. Finally, mediation analysis reveals that, by heightening perceived class-based bias, distress within one’s friendship network indirectly increases support for government efforts to redress inequality.