Income and views on minimum living standards

This paper explores the association between income and stated views on minimum living standards; that is, items activities no one in today's society should have to go without. Using data from a large nationally representative survey, we find rich deem fewer be essential. In our baseline model, people at bottom of distribution report 10% more as essential than do top distribution. The negative relationship recommended standards is robust conditioning covariate set, remains evident when use alternative measures economic status, such wealth neighborhood advantage. We area-level inequality amplifies gradient, are considerate towards children they adults. also changes people's across time relatively small, unrelated major life events. An explanation for this stability formed primarily childhood. status childhood has strong effects during adulthood, but intergenerational mobility unimportant.