Unpacking redistributive preferences in Latin America

Abstract

Recent work on developed countries has explored whether the notion of preferences for redistribution can be conceptualized as bi-dimensional. Our work picks up on these innovative studies to analyze whether bi-dimensionality may be important to understanding the puzzling structure of redistributive preferences in four Latin America countries (Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica and Uruguay). Results from exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis suggest that, in line with previous findings for the developed world, two dimensions of redistributive preferences—‘self-interest’ and ‘other-regarding’ attitudes—are present in Uruguay and Costa Rica. However, they are not observable in the cases of Chile and Colombia. In contrast to what other studies have found, income is not always relevant to shape both self-interest and other-regarding support. Also, different variables are relevant in each country to differentiate between types. Our attempt to empirically test a more refined conceptualization for the notion of redistributive preferences provides new insights both to understand the Latin American puzzle regarding support for redistribution and to the comparative literature on the topic.