Near Is My Shirt but Nearer Is My Skin. Ideology or Self-Interest as Determinants of Public Opinion on Fiscal Policy Issues

Arbeitspapier

Several empirical studies derive that personal positions with respect to policy measures are dominated by ideology instead of narrow self-interest. In the present field study we carried out a telephone survey with 1,003 respondents all over Austria. Instead of measuring selfishness indirectly by using more or less "objective indicators" for self-interest, we requested respondents to assess directly whether they expect to be affected by policy measures. Our results indicate that such a subjectively measured narrow self-interest explains attitudes towards economic policies at least as good as ideological conviction. In some cases ideology appears to determine whether people feel affected by a proposed policy measure.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: WIFO Working Papers ; No. 373

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft
• Subject: Finanzpolitik ; Öffentliche Meinung ; Eigeninteresse ; Ideologie ; Befragung ; Österreich

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Pitlik, Hans ; Schwarz, Gerhard ; Bechter, Barbara ; Brandl, Bernd
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO)
• (where): Vienna
• (when): 2010

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/128911
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET