The Economic Other: Inequality in the American Political Imagination By Meghan Condon and Amber Wichowsky. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 2020. 240 pp., $30.00 Paperback

Abstract

Why, despite the fact that income inequality has increased over the last 40 years, do Americans not support the US government ’ s efforts to reduce income disparities between the rich and poor? In The Economic Other , Megan Condon and Amber Wichowsky examine how cross-class comparison influences status perception and political attitudes, as well as why Americans do not engage in the type of cross-class comparison that could increase support for redistribution. As Democrats have long debated how to tax the rich and whether to increase social spending on the poor and the middle class to advance President Biden ’ s agenda, the book offers insights into understanding public opinion about these issues. are