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Does Austerity Cause Polarization?
Title / Series / Name
Publication Volume
Publication Issue
Pages
Editors
Keywords
elections
fiscal policy
polarization
political parties
turnout
Political Science and International Relations
SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
fiscal policy
polarization
political parties
turnout
Political Science and International Relations
SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
URI
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14018/27516
Abstract
In recent decades, governments in many Western democracies have shown a remarkable consensus in pursuing fiscal austerity measures during periods of strained public finances. In this article, we show that these decisions have consequences for political polarization. Our macro-level analysis of 166 elections since 1980 finds that austerity measures increase both electoral abstention and votes for non-mainstream parties, thereby boosting party system polarization. A detailed analysis of selected austerity episodes also shows that new, small and radical parties benefit most from austerity policies. Finally, survey experiments with a total of 8,800 respondents in Germany, Portugal, Spain and the UK indicate that the effects of austerity on polarization are particularly pronounced when the mainstream right and left parties both stand for fiscal restraint. Austerity is a substantial cause of political polarization and hence political instability in industrialized democracies.
Topic
Publisher
Place of Publication
Type
Journal article
Date
2023-04-14
Language
ISBN
Identifiers
10.1017/S0007123422000734