Can changing economic conditions predict changes in public attitudes
toward welfare state policies? More specifically, does public support
for governmental provision and economic redistribution increase in
periods of economic strain and low employment? This has been a popular
hypothesis among political commentators but has been subject of limited
empirical scrutiny. The hypothesis is tested using data from three waves
of the World Value Survey and fixed effects models at country level
following cross-sectional analyses at the level of respondents which
control for individual characteristics. The hypothesis is supported by
three out of four effects being tested. These effects are largely
contextual as individual level compositional effects can only explain a
minor part. The results also indicate that the formation of public
opinions towards welfare state policies is predictable and rational.
Presented by:
Morten Blekesaune (ISER)
Date & time:
September 27, 2006 12:00 pm - September 26, 2006 11:00 pm
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