Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics
Working Paper Series,
Sveriges Riksbank (Central Bank of Sweden)
No 418: The Political Costs of Austerity
Ricardo Duque Gabriel (), Mathias Klein () and Sofia Pessoa ()
Additional contact information
Ricardo Duque Gabriel: Bonn Graduate School of Economics and Department of Economics, University of Bonn
Mathias Klein: Research Department, Central Bank of Sweden, Postal: Sveriges Riksbank, SE-103 37 Stockholm, Sweden
Sofia Pessoa: Bonn Graduate School of Economics and Department of Economics, University of Bonn
Abstract: Using a novel regional database covering over 200 elections in several European countries, this paper provides new empirical evidence on the political consequences of fiscal consolidations.To identify exogenous reductions in regional public spending, we use a Bartik-type instrument that combines regional sensitivities to changes in national government expenditures with narrative national consolidation episodes. Fiscal consolidations lead to a significant increase in extreme parties’ vote share, lower voter turnout, and a rise in political fragmentation. We highlight the close relationship between detrimental economic developments and voters’ support for extreme parties by showing that austerity induces severe economic costs through lowering GDP, employment, private investment, and wages. Austerity-driven recessions amplify the political costs of economic downturns considerably by increasing distrust in the political environment.
Keywords: Fiscal policy; Austerity; Voting behavior; Political economy
Language: English
50 pages, November 1, 2022
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