Does inequality promote the rise of intolerance?

Economic inequality has been growing in modern societies in recent years and some experts believe that this may be a key factor in the rise and growth of intolerance. On the other hand, our societies are becoming increasingly dependent on public reputation systems, in which we trust to make our decisions. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the relationship between inequality, intolerance and reputation is necessary.

Expanding this knowledge is precisely what Luis Alberto Martínez Vaquero, a researcher at the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM) in Spain, who is part of the Complex Systems Group (GSC), has done. In his study he has used evolutionary game theory, which combines game theory with evolutionary dynamics. Through this tool it is possible to mathematically model the interaction between individuals that are part of populations and analyze how large-scale collective behaviors emerge that are not predictable from individual behavior.

In previous work in collaboration with the Carlos III University of Madrid (UC3M), Luis Alberto Martínez Vaquero studied which social norms emerge and are resilient in models of indirect reciprocity based on reputation, discovering that certain intolerant behaviors emerged in minorities subjected to economic stress. In this new work, the researcher has adapted this model to incorporate economic inequality and intolerance, studying how one influences the other. Thus, it was analyzed under what circumstances intolerant strategies could invade groups of tolerant individuals in different scenarios and what was required for tolerance to be restored.

The results of the current work clearly showed that inequality is a powerful catalyst for intolerance, leading to the escalation of discriminatory behaviors even without the presence of new intolerant individuals who promote said intolerance. Inequality also modified the behavior of tolerant individuals belonging to disadvantaged minorities, so that they either stopped penalizing uncooperative individuals, or prioritized helping wealthier individuals, even if they suffered discrimination from them. , rather than to individuals in their own group. Some of these behaviors, which may initially seem counterintuitive, could explain the differences observed between different cultures.

The results of the study indicate that inequality promotes the increase of intolerance. (Illustration: Amazings/NCYT)

In the research carried out, the conditions under which wealth redistribution becomes a viable solution to avoid intolerance have also been studied: it must guarantee the reduction of inequality and be implemented before intolerance permeates part of the population. In other words, it is an effective preventive mechanism that loses most of its capacity if its implementation is delayed if intolerant behaviors are detected.

“The objective of this work has been, therefore, not only to understand why certain behaviors and social phenomena appear, but also to analyze the potential success of the implementation of public policies. The conclusions of this research are especially relevant in the context of the global economic crisis, mainly motivated by the COVID-19 pandemic and armed conflicts, and the consequent increase in inequality”, concludes Martínez Vaquero.

The study is titled “Inequality leads to the evolution of intolerance in reputation-based populations”. And it has been published in the academic journal Chaos: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Science. (Source: UPM)