How income disparity affects citizens' public services satisfaction?evidence from China

This study analysed how income disparity affects citizens' public service satisfaction. Using the data of the Chinese General Social Survey from 2013 to 2015, we found that income disparity can reduce citizens' satisfaction with public service. Through a series of robustness tests, the findings of this paper remain robust. Mechanism analysis indicates that material aspirations are the main pathway through which income disparity affects citizens' satisfaction with public services. We also found that the effect of income disparity on citizens' satisfaction with public services is more pronounced in the samples of non-residents, urban residents and higher-income groups.