Bling-Bling politics: exposure to status-goods consumption shapes the social policy preferences of the less affuent.

This article examines how exposure to conspicuous consumption—visible displays of wealth through luxury goods—influences the social policy preferences of less-affluent citizens in the United States. Using detailed data at the zip code and county levels, the study finds that higher local levels of conspicuous consumption correlate with reduced support for social spending and increased opposition to income taxes among individuals below the state median income. This pattern suggests that less-affluent citizens prioritize immediate disposable income, via tax cuts, over long-term benefits from social welfare programs to avoid the psychological and economic costs of appearing poor by comparison. The findings remain robust after controlling for alternative explanations such as upward mobility expectations, local wealth effects, and partisan context, highlighting a collective action dilemma where exposure to wealth-signaling consumption may undermine support for redistribution policies.