A majority of Germans believe that the wealthy should contribute more of their wealth, according to a study on perceptions of fairness. However, when it comes to their own money, the desire for redistribution decreases. The study, conducted by the Bertelsmann Foundation in cooperation with the IFO Institute, surveyed 4,900 people over the age of 18 on their perceptions of wealth distribution in society, their own income and wealth, and different generations. Only 17% of respondents felt that there was distributional justice in Germany, while more than a quarter (27%) believed that there was intergenerational justice. More than a third of participants felt that their own wealth (34%) and income (35%) were fair.
There were significant differences between socio-economic groups, with those with higher education and income, men, and upwardly mobile individuals perceiving society as more just than women, those with lower education and income. The study’s authors warn that the current economic situation is causing many people’s sense of justice to decline further, which could lead to a decline in social cohesion. This is problematic for the government, as perceived justice is correlated with trust in politics and state institutions. People who feel unfairly treated are less likely to be willing to change.
Despite the desire to reduce the wealth gap, only a smaller proportion of respondents (37%) were willing to pay higher taxes for this purpose. Similarly, while half of the participants believed that younger generations would experience significant declines in prosperity compared to their parents, only 20% supported adjusting the pension system, avoiding new debts, or adjusting voting rights in favor of younger citizens. However, the majority of respondents (69%) believed that a stronger effort was needed to achieve climate goals.
Overall, the study found that while most Germans support the principles of the social market economy, there is a significant perception of injustice in wealth distribution. This could have implications for the government’s ability to implement necessary changes and maintain social cohesion.
