Social gaps, perceived inequality and protest

Bargain, Olivier, Jara, H. Xavier ORCID: 0000-0001-6648-2653 and Rivera, David (2025) Social gaps, perceived inequality and protest. World Development. ISSN 0305-750X (In Press)

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Abstract

Latent feelings of economic vulnerability and social stagnation may have catalyzed the unprecedented uprisings that shook Latin America and other parts of the world in 2018-2019. We document this process in the context of Chile, leveraging survey data on protest participation and its potential determinants. Specifically, we construct a “social gap” index, measuring the disconnect between objective and perceived social status. Our findings suggest that this status misperception predicts protest involvement beyond factors such as perceived living costs, the subjective value of public services, peer influence, redistributive views and political demands. Notably, the social gap operates independently of broader feelings of unfairness and anger toward inequalities in explaining protests.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© 2025 The Author(s)
Divisions:	International Inequalities Institute
Subjects:	J Political Science H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory
JEL classification:	D - Microeconomics > D3 - Distribution > D31 - Personal Income, Wealth, and Their Distributions D - Microeconomics > D6 - Welfare Economics > D63 - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement D - Microeconomics > D7 - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making > D74 - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances
Date Deposited:	05 Nov 2025 14:33
Last Modified:	11 Dec 2025 03:10
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/130068

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