What are the policy design conditions required to gather majority support for maximum income policies? Evidence from a vignette survey experiment

While the idea of a maximum income is often discussed by post-growth scholars as a policy instrument to reduce income inequality and to moderate the environmental impacts of the wealthiest, it remains under-researched, and the few existing studies suggest that the concept is generally unpopular among citizens. In this context, it is highly unlikely that such a measure could be implemented, as political action requires a minimum level of societal acceptability. This article argues that public support has been misestimated so far and seeks to investigate whether and under what conditions it is possible to build majority support for policies introducing a maximum income. The analysis is based on an experimental vignette survey conducted in Belgium within a representative sample of the national population (N = 1262). The findings reveal that the maximum income policies are far more supported than previously estimated, with 49% of respondents expressing approval. Furthermore, this study identifies two key design elements – income cap levels and tax rates – that are critical for increasing public support and could potentially lead to acceptance levels of around 65% of the population, when the income cap is set at a minimum of 500.000 euros and is accompanied by a tax rate of 90%. By identifying concrete levers to enhance acceptability, this research renders maximum income more politically achievable than previously thought and contributes to imagining realistic pathways toward a post-growth society.