Public perceptions of income inequality in Hong Kong : trends, causes and implications
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Journal of Contemporary China
Publication Date
1-1-2009
Volume
18
Issue
61
First Page
657
Last Page
673
Publisher
Routledge
Abstract
This article examines the patterns and changes in public perceptions of domestic income inequality in Hong Kong in the past two decades and explains individual variations in these perceptions. It found that the perceived seriousness of income disparities had been persistently high, while the perceived unjustness of income disparities showed a fluctuating trend. Our findings lent partial support to the structural position thesis that the privileged groups are less likely than the underprivileged groups to consider existing income disparities to be serious and unjust. Nonetheless, the popular understanding of poverty is still biased towards 'individual' explanations, and this perhaps explains why the government is less willing to tackle the economic and political foundations of poverty in Hong Kong.
DOI
10.1080/10670560903033950
Print ISSN
10670564
E-ISSN
14699400
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2009 Taylor & Francis
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Wong, K. Y. T., Wan, P. S., & Law, W. K. K. (2009). Public perceptions of income inequality in Hong Kong: Trends, causes and implications. The Journal of Contemporary China, 18(61), 657-673. doi: 10.1080/10670560903033950