Reducing income inequality

Public support for government action to reduce income inequality has remained consistently high and is above the European average, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has asserted.

Public support for welfare and redistributive policies in Ireland, published in February 2026, states that around 75 per cent of Irish residents indicate that they agree that the Government should take measures to reduce differences in income.

This proportion is slightly higher than the European average (71 per cent) and the proportions in other northern European countries. Support for income redistribution is higher among females, those in the lowest income quintile and those from the unskilled and skilled manual social classes.

The report also states that young people and those born in Ireland, as those who identify themselves as having left-wing views are also more supportive of redistribution.

The study also explores the attitudes to more concrete welfare and tax policy, as well as ideological basis for redistribution. While the connection found between social position (for example, low income) and support for redistribution might be explained by self-interest (for example, the belief that greater redistribution would improve their own material conditions), the study finds that “there is also evidence that it is influenced by people’s views on fairness”.

In Ireland, perceptions about unfairness of the income of the rich is associated with support for redistribution as much as perceptions of how unfairly low the income of the poor is. In countries such as Norway and France, however, the ESRI states that “unfairly high incomes are more strongly associated with support for redistribution”.

Attitudes to social benefits

A high proportion of respondents in Ireland (64 per cent) believe that social benefits prevent poverty (down slightly from 69 per cent in 2009), however, there was a small increase in the proportion of respondents who agree that ‘social benefits lead to a more equal society’ from 52 per cent in 2009 to 53 per cent.

However, alongside these positive beliefs, there are also more negative sentiments, with 58 per cent believing in the sentiment that “social benefits make people lazy”. Younger people, those on the right of the left-right scale, and those with lower educational attainment are more likely to agree that “social benefits make people lazy”.

While that belief declined over time, Ireland has one of the highest proportions in Europe of respondents agreeing with this statement.

There is a higher level of support for government spending on older people and childcare for working families than there is for those who are unemployed. The same pattern is observed in most European countries but, in Ireland, the gaps between these three groups are significantly smaller. One-third of respondents indicated that they would agree with higher taxes if it meant more or better public services. This is the sixth highest percentage across the 27 participant countries.

Change over time

Over the period 2002 to 2023/24, support for redistribution in Ireland fluctuated around 75 per cent. Trends differ across social class groups. Support for income redistribution among the working class in Ireland is now at the highest level since 2002. Events such as a government campaign focused on welfare fraud and budget announcements have a significant but short-lived impact on welfare attitudes and support for redistribution.

Those who experienced job loss during the Covid-19 pandemic are more supportive of redistribution, regardless of their financial situation, suggesting that the enhanced role of government in supporting incomes during that period boosted support for redistribution.
These findings suggest that there is a strong basis of support for government policies of redistribution; however, these are sensitive to framing, with a focus on fraud rather than citizens’ entitlements, leading to more negative sentiment about redistribution.

The ESRI states that attitudes to social welfare are also “sensitive to trade-offs and perceived hierarchies of deservingness”.

“Awareness of one’s own potential reliance on social benefits motivates support for redistribution but so does people’s sense of what is fair. Lessons from behavioural studies suggest that providing information to individuals about the extent of existing inequalities influences individual support for redistribution.

“These findings underscore the importance of governments addressing misperceptions related to welfare recipients and providing reliable information about inequalities in society.”

Daniel Capistrano, researcher at the ESRI and co-author of the report, says: “This report shows a solid social support for enhancing the welfare state in Ireland. Policymakers have a favourable environment to design and implement policies that meet the demands for better distribution of income, opportunities and living conditions in Ireland.”

Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of Community Foundation Ireland, a partner on the research, states: “The study shows that even in times of challenge and complexities, there is a sense of fairness and support for equality within our society. Something all of us should be proud of. These important findings will inform our future work as a philanthropic hub with an equality mission, as well as our 5,000 community, voluntary, and charitable partners.”