Why might the rich be indifferent to income growth of their own countries?

•The shares of bottom/top income groups vary by country more than the shares of the middle.•Middle groups are more concerned with overall growth of national income.•For top 1% or 5% gain from pro-inequality redistribution often greater than realistic gain from growth.

The paper shows using empirical evidence from more than 100 countries' household surveys, that income gains that the rich can realize through a more unequal distribution are often much larger than the realistic gains from a distribution-neutral growth. The rich are thus more likely to support policies that increase inequality than be concerned about income growth of their countries.