Blood, taxes, and public opinion: the political costs of war

Abstract: "War casualties often have a devastating effect on the popularity of political leaders. Yet, war also entails substantial fiscal outlays requiring funding either through increased debt or taxes. Using U.S. data for the period from 1948 to 2008, the author illustrates that this fiscal side of war also affects the popularity of the incumbent U.S. president. In general, the more he spends on war, the less popular he becomes. Such adverse effects of war-spending decrease, however, when unemployment rises. This suggests that under adverse economic conditions, the public might see war-induced spending as a stimulus for the national economy." (author's abstract)

Object Details

• Alternative title: Blut, Steuern und öffentliche Meinung: die politischen Kosten des Krieges
• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: Veröffentlichungsversion ; In: WZB-Mitteilungen (2011) 133 ; 15-17

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Mannheim
• (when): 2011
• Creator: Geys, Benny

Further information

• URN: urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-308696
• Rights: Open Access unbekannt; Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:34 AM CEST