Demand for redistribution: Individuals' response to economic setbacks

Arbeitspapier

Although economic circumstances have been argued to be a major determining factor of attitudes to redistribution, there is little well identified evidence at the individual level. Utilizing a unique dataset, with detailed individual information, provides new and convincing evidence on the link between economic circumstances and demand for redistribution (in the form of benefits and support). The Swedish National Election Studies are constructed as a rotating survey panel, which makes it possible to estimate the causal effect of economic changes. The empirical analysis shows that individuals who experience a job loss become considerably more supportive of redistribution. Yet, attitudes to redistribution return to their initial level as economic prospects improve, suggesting that the effect is only temporary. Despite the fact that a job loss also changes attitudes to the political parties, the probability to vote for the left-wing is not affected.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: Working Paper ; No. 2017:1

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Personal Income, Wealth, and Their Distributions ; Social Security and Public Pensions ; Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior ; Unemployment: Models, Duration, Incidence, and Job Search
• Subject: Redistribution ; Social insurance ; Political attitudes ; Unemployment

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Martén, Linna
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Uppsala University, Department of Economics
• (where): Uppsala
• (when): 2017

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/197678
• URN: urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-314113
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET