收入不平等与信任的关系:宏观与微观研究进展

The Relationship between Income Inequality and Trust:Research Advances at the Macro and Micro Levels

近年来,越来越多的研究从宏观和微观两个层面探讨收入不平等和信任的关系。宏观研究通常采用相关法,以基尼系数和泰尔指数等代表社会收入不平等,通过社会调查测量信任,结果发现收入不平等负向预测信任。微观研究通常采用实验法,操纵研究对象的收入,观测博弈中信任行为的变化,结果发现收入不平等降低信任。未来的宏观层面研究可以探讨收入不平等与不同类型信任、不同群体信任的关系,微观层面研究需要提高实验的生态效度,并探讨收入不平等影响信任的心理机制。

Over the years, increasing research investigates the relationship between income inequality and trust at macro and micro levels. Prior studies at the macro level often adopt a correlation method, in which income inequality is re- presented by Gini coefficient or Theil index, and trust is measured in general social surveys, finding that income in- equality negatively predicts trust. Other studies at the micro level routinely adopt an experimental method where participants＇ incomes or endowments are manipulated and their trusting behaviors are observed in the subsequent e- conomic game, demonstrating that income inequality decreases trust. Future research at the macro level can explore how the income inequality may predict different kinds of trust and the trust of different groups. Likewise, future re- search at the micro level should promote the ecological validity of the experiments and explore the psychological mechanisms through which income equality decreases trust.