Résumé
This article studies the formation of preferences regarding redistribution. Its aim is to demonstrate how preferences for redistribution are influenced by individual beliefs on theorigins of social inequality and public values. The first section shows, through amicroeconomic model, how preferences on redistribution can be understood as the outcome of “normative rationality” depended on beliefs concerning individual responsibility in thecreation of inequality. This model is then confronted with empirical field data demonstrating the link between individuals’ normative beliefs and judgments and their preferences for redistribution.We find that these normative variables used partially explain the preferences forredistribution. This illustrates how individuals use rational ethics to justify partisanpreferences since these judgments are in part determined by economic variables reflectingself-interest. We particularly observe that, opinions about the level of effort everyone has todo in the production task or the opinions concerning the fair remuneration of talents or skills may change through individual experiences relative to social or prospects of upward mobilityand then affect preferences for redistribution. We also find a strong effect of socialidentification on preferences for redistribution through public values.