Probing collective misperceptions: health and economic inequality in comparative perspective

Inequalities in health, wealth, and income exist in all societies. However, individuals and societies may perceive different levels and trends in inequality as more or less justifiable. More importantly, concerns about inequality may differ significantly depending on the type of resource that is distributed unequally. The goal of the cluster project Probing collective misperceptions: Health and economic inequality in comparative perspective is to examine and compare the underlying mechanisms of perceptions of inequalities in health, wealth, and income. This is important for a better understanding of why individuals over- or underestimate actual levels of inequality. The project started in October 2021. The research team led by health scientist Britta Renner aims to build an interdisciplinary bridge project supported by both Konstanz clusters of excellence, “The Politics of Inequality” and the “Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour”.