Michael W. Kraus|Ivuoma N. Onyeador|Natalie M. Daumeyer|Julian M. Rucker|Jennifer A. Richeson
The Misperception of Racial Economic Inequality
Yale University
racial economic inequality foundational feature united states yet many americans appear oblivious present work consider psychology underlying collective willful ignorance drawing prior research new evidence nationally representative sample adults n 1008 offer compelling evidence americans vastly underestimate racial economic inequality especially racial wealth gap particular respondents thought blackwhite wealth gap smaller around 40 percentage points 1963 around 80 percentage points 2016 actual size consider motivational cognitive structural factors likely contribute misperceptions suggest directions future research test ideas importantly highlight implications collective ignorance racial economic inequality challenge creating greater accuracy perceptions racial economic disparities well outline steps policymakers might take create messages topic effectively promote equityenhancing policies close appeal psychological science least consider center racial patterning profound economic gaps