People’s attitudes toward extreme wealth may be tied to their deep moral instincts shaped by culture, religion and psychology. (Image source: Freepik.)
What we really think about the ultra-wealthy
Is extreme wealth a moral failure or a badge of honor? A global study co-led by USC Dornsife reveals what really drives our judgments about the ultra-rich.
Key points:
- The study asked more than 4,300 people in 20 countries whether it’s morally wrong to have “too much money.”
- One of the strongest predictors of disapproval was a moral instinct to avoid excess, indulgence and corruption.
- People in wealthier and more income-equal countries, such as Switzerland and Ireland, were more likely to view extreme wealth as immoral.
- The study helps explain why opinions about billionaires are so divided — and why debates over inequality feel so personal.
Is a billionaire a brilliant innovator or a modern-day dragon, hoarding gold?
Whether people admire or condemn extreme wealth may have less to do with economic theories and more to do with deep moral instincts shaped by culture, religion and psychology.
That’s the takeaway from a new global study co-led by researchers at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Published in the journal PNAS Nexus, the research explores a provocative question: Is it morally wrong to be extremely rich?