Income inequality and self-others risk perception bias: evidence from 49 countries

Self-other risk perception bias refers to the tendency for individuals to perceive their own risks as lower than those faced by others—a cognitive bias that can significantly influence decision-making and behavior, particularly in the context of health risks. This study, based on data from 42612 participants across 49 countries, investigates whether individuals tend to underestimate their own risk while overestimating the risk to others regarding COVID-19 infection, and how this bias is shaped by macro-level factors such as national income inequality and cultural orientation (collectivism vs. individualism). The results reveal a significant self-other risk perception bias. While cultural orientation (collectivism vs. individualism) was not significantly associated with this bias, national income inequality emerged as a strong predictor. In countries with higher income inequality, individuals were more likely to exhibit stronger self-other risk perception bias. This study underscores the importance of income inequality in shaping risk perception and provides new insights into how socioeconomic factors influence individuals’ assessment of risks. These findings offer valuable implications for developing targeted and effective risk communication strategies across diverse socioeconomic contexts.