Catalysts and buffers : How diversity and status in social networks shape attitudes towards inequality in contemporary societies
Franetovic, Gonzalo (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona)

Date:	2026
Abstract:	This paper explores how the socioeconomic composition of individuals' social networks shapes attitudes towards inequality in contemporary societies. While limited cross-national research has examined the location of people's acquaintances within the social structure, this study fills a crucial gap by jointly analyzing their heterogeneity and concentration. Using data from the ISSP 2017 Social Networks Module, the study investigates how socioeconomic network diversity and status relate to perceptions of inequality and preferences for redistribution across 32,310 individuals in 31 countries. Country fixed-effects regression results indicate that individuals with more socioeconomically diverse networks show modestly higher national inequality perceptions, whereas having higher-status acquaintances is strongly associated with lower support for redistribution. These effects are not uniform: network diversity often acts as a catalyst and network status as a buffer of distributive attitudes. Social networks thus operate simultaneously as comparative frames (highlighting disparities) and reference frames (anchoring norms), amplifying or dampening individuals' views on inequality. Notably, network effects operate consistently across all socioeconomic groups, regardless of individuals' SES. Overall, the study advances meso-level perspectives on distributive justice by demonstrating how everyday social relationships shape perceptions and beliefs about inequality in stratified societies.
Note:	Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UAB
Note:	I am deeply grateful to Renzo Carriero, Simona Guglielmi, Arvid Lindh, Leo Azzollini, and Herman van de Werfhorst for their thoughtful comments that greatly helped refine the theoretical and analytical arguments. Earlier versions of this work benefited from presentations and feedback received at the 5th ISA Forum of Sociology, the ISA RC28 on Social Stratification and Mobility Summer Meeting 2024, the ECSR Annual Conference 2024, and the BSA Virtual Annual Conference 2024. Their contributions have substantially enriched the quality and clarity of this study.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Published in:	Social Science Research, Vol. 138 (August 2026) , art. 103389, ISSN 1096-0317

DOI: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2026.103389

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