A small elite at the top and a great mass at the bottom? Perceived inequality in Canada before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic

Perceived economic inequality has consequences for political, social, and health outcomes, making it important to understand how it varies over time and what drives it. We address two underexamined questions. First, little is known about how perceived inequality changes during periods of acute economic disruption. We address this question by examining how perceived inequality changed over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, a period marked by high inflation and cost of living pressures. Second, while prior research has established SES as a key structural determinant of perceived inequality, the mechanisms are underexamined. We advance this research by identifying mechanisms among the SES components and through proximal structural experiences: Job conditions and financial strain. Our analysis of national data from 2019 to 2025 reveals that perceived inequality increased non-linearly: It remained stable from 2019 to 2022, increased in 2023, and remained stable thereafter. The increase was partly due to the growing share of Canadians reporting worsening costs of living, although a significant portion of the trend remained unexplained. Regarding structural determinants, we replicate prior evidence of SES effects and clarify the pathways by which education, occupation, and income shape perceived inequality. Furthermore, we elaborate on the SES effects by identifying the key explanatory role of financial strain. Collectively, these findings reveal how levels of perceived inequality shifted during the pandemic in Canada and advance understanding of the structural determinants of perceived inequality.