What the study found
The study found support for the meritocratic attribution hypothesis, which means that people may link economic success to personal merit or effort. Among financially struggling workers, perceiving the economy as good was associated with higher reported powerlessness than perceiving it as poor or fair.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that perceptions of the wider economy can shape how financial strain relates to powerlessness. The study suggests that a good economy may be linked to stronger feelings of powerlessness for people who are already financially struggling.
What the researchers tested
The researchers tested four hypotheses about how perceptions of the economy might change the relationship between financial strain and powerlessness. They used two nationally representative samples of workers in late 2023: 2,466 workers in the United States and 2,501 workers in Canada.
What worked and what didn't
The meritocratic attribution hypothesis was supported in both countries. The amplified threat and protective economic optimism hypotheses were not supported, and the authors did not find evidence that perceiving a poor economy weakened the link between financial strain and powerlessness relative to perceiving a fair economy.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe additional limitations beyond the use of worker samples from two countries and data collected in late 2023. No other caveats are stated in the available summary.
Key points
- Financially struggling workers reported more powerlessness when they viewed the economy as good.
- The finding appeared in nationally representative samples from the United States and Canada.
- Support was found for the meritocratic attribution hypothesis in both countries.
- The study did not support the amplified threat or protective economic optimism hypotheses.
- There was no evidence that perceiving a poor economy reduced the financial strain-powerlessness link versus perceiving a fair economy.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Perceiving a good economy strengthens the strain-powerlessness link
- Authors:
- Jiasheng Liang, Alexander Wilson, Scott Schieman
- Institutions:
- University of Toronto, University of Toronto, Yale University
- Publication date:
- 2026-04-05
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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