I made It Because of Me: Beliefs About the Causes of Wealth and Poverty

Using probability data collected from a sample of metropolitan residents, variation in beliefs about the “causes” of wealth and poverty was examined. It was found that respondents generally preferred individualistic explanations of wealth and poverty over structural ones. By comparing results from this study with those from other studies, it was concluded that many stratification beliefs are remarkably similar across locations and stable over time. Income was strongly correlated with the odds of favoring individualistic beliefs over structural ones. Strong correlations were also found between individualistic beliefs and the likelihood of perceiving inequalities as fair and not extensive. And finally, a significant link was observed between individualistic beliefs and perceiving the world as a just place where hard work is tied to success. Discussion and implications are also provided.