Subjective Perception and Causal Attributions for Poverty in Italy

This study investigates the potential link between individuals' subjective perceptions of their socioeconomic status and their beliefs regarding the causes of poverty. Specifically, it explores whether people's causal attributions for poverty are influenced by their concerns about the cost of living, their assessments of the economic situation over the past year, and their expectations for the coming year. Our objective is to deepen the understanding of how individuals perceive the root causes of poverty. The analysis is based on data from a 2012 survey conducted in Italy, involving approximately 1,000 participants. Through Principal Component Analysis, we identified three primary components, and subsequent analyses revealed significant correlations between factors such as personal socioeconomic status perception and concerns about the cost of living. These findings aim to shed light on the complex interplay between subjective economic assessments and attitudes towards poverty.