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

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