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Page 1: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

Ithaca, April 6, 2009Cornell Institute for European Studies

Thorsten FaasUniversity of Mannheim

Email: [email protected]

Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

Page 2: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

1Schlozman/Verba 1979: Injury to Insult

Issue voting; electoral activity

Preference for economic policies designed to ease problem

Perception that government is respon-sible

Sense of economic dissatis-faction and deprivation

Unemploy-ment and/or low socio-economic status

SpecificModel

Level and direction of political activity

Policy preferences and programs

Politiciza-tion of the strain

Subjective Strain

Objective Condition

GeneralModel

Page 3: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

Unemployment ExperiencesI

Perceptions of EconomyII

Attributions of ResponsibilityIII

Electoral ConsequencesIV

Page 4: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

3Unemployment Experiences

Unemployment ...

• … as a discrete characteristic of individuals

• … ranging from short-term to long-term experiences

• ... also fear of unemployment as a relevant experience

• … as a characteristic of social/regional units

• … ranging from individuals‘household to network to regional contexts to the national economy

• Concentric circles

Page 5: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

4Unemployment Experiences: Being Unemployed

2006

2004

2002

2000

1998

1996

1994

1992

1991

1990

1988

1986

1984

1982

1980

East G. West G.

50 40 30 20 10 0 10 20 30 40 50Percent

Unemployed at time of interview

Unemployed anytime during last 10 years

Source: German General Social Survey (Allbus), German citizens aSource: German General Social Survey (Allbus), German citizens aged 18+ onlyged 18+ only

Page 6: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

5Unemployment Experiences: Staying Unemployed

Source: German General Social Survey (Allbus), German citizens aSource: German General Social Survey (Allbus), German citizens aged 18+, who ged 18+, who have been unemployed during the last 10 years onlyhave been unemployed during the last 10 years only

2006

2004

2002

2000

1998

1996

1994

1992

1991

1990

1988

1986

1984

1982

1980

East G. West G.

260 208 156 104 52 0 52 104 156 208 260Weeks

Completed Length (currently employed)

Completed Length (currently not employed)

Present Length (currently unemloyed)

Page 7: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

6Unemployment Experiences: Fear of Unemployment

Source: German General Social Survey (Allbus), German citizens aSource: German General Social Survey (Allbus), German citizens aged 18+, who ged 18+, who are currently employedare currently employed

2006

2004

2000

1998

1996

1994

1992

1991

1980

East G. West G.

50 40 30 20 10 0 10 20 30 40 50Percent

Page 8: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

7Unemployment Experiences: Household Perspective

Source: German Socioeconomic Panel (GSOEP), German citizens agedSource: German Socioeconomic Panel (GSOEP), German citizens aged 18+ only18+ only

2004200320022001200019991998199719961995199419931992199119901989198819871986198519841983

East G. West G.

40 30 20 10 0 10 20 30 40Percent

R unmployed (monthly basis)

HH member unemployed (monthly basis)

HH member unemloyed (yearly basis)

Page 9: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

8Unemployment Experiences: Network Perspective

Source: Politbarometer, German citizens aged 18+ onlySource: Politbarometer, German citizens aged 18+ only

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

East G. West G.

75 50 25 0 25 50 75Percent

Page 10: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

9Unemployment Experiences

• To fully understand the relevance of unemployment from a political science perspective, but also a political perspective, one should apply a differentiated view

• Simply focusing on the number of people currently unemployed is too short-sighted

Page 11: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

Unemployment ExperiencesI

Perceptions of EconomyII

Attributions of ResponsibilityIII

Electoral ConsequencesIV

Page 12: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

11Perceptions of the Economy

• ÊHow does the electorate internalize the objective economy and transform it into a subjective economy?” (de Boef/Kellstedt 2004: 633) – and what is the role of unemployment experiences?

• Concerning such perceptions, one should (in line with the literature) distinguish ...

– by the time frame used (retrospective, present, prospective)– by the object that is being evaluated (individual, regional, national economy)

• Unemployment experiences should have a strong impact on perceptions of the retrospective development and the present state of the economy (pertaining to an individual‘s situation, but also the national situation); fear of unemployment should have an impact on prospective ones

Page 13: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

12Perceptions of Individuals’ Situation (East G.)

2006

2004

2002

2000

1998

1996

1994

1992

1990

1988

1986

1984

1982

-1 -.5 0 .5 1Perceptions of current situation

Unemployed

Not employed

Employed

Source: German General Social Survey (Allbus), German citizens aSource: German General Social Survey (Allbus), German citizens aged 18+ onlyged 18+ only

Page 14: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

13Perceptions of Individuals’ Situation (West G.)

2006

2004

2002

2000

1998

1996

1994

1992

1990

1988

1986

1984

1982

-1 -.5 0 .5 1Perceptions of current situation

Unemployed

Not employed

Employed

Source: German General Social Survey (Allbus), German citizens aSource: German General Social Survey (Allbus), German citizens aged 18+ onlyged 18+ only

Page 15: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

14Perceptions of Prospective Situation (East G.)

2006

2004

2000

1998

1996

1994

1992

-1 -.5 0 .5 1Perceptions of prospective situation

Not worried

Worried

Source: German General Social Survey (Allbus), German citizens aSource: German General Social Survey (Allbus), German citizens aged 18+ onlyged 18+ only

Page 16: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

15Perceptions of Prospective Situation (East G.)

2006

2004

2000

1998

1996

1994

1992

-1 -.5 0 .5 1Perceptions of prospective situation

Not worried

Worried

Source: German General Social Survey (Allbus), German citizens aSource: German General Social Survey (Allbus), German citizens aged 18+ onlyged 18+ only

Page 17: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

16Perceptions of National Economic Situation

• In relation to national unemployment

• Multilevel model (using the temporal context as level 2)

• Strong and significant effect of national employment rate on perceptions of the national economy

0.2

5.5

.75

1In

ve

rse

of

un

em

plo

ym

en

t ra

te

-1-.

50

.51

Ave

rag

e P

erc

ep

tio

n o

f cu

rre

nt

situ

atio

n

1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006Jahr

Average Perceptions

Inverse of unemployment rate (right axis)

Source: German General Social Survey (Allbus), German citizens aSource: German General Social Survey (Allbus), German citizens aged 18+ onlyged 18+ only

Page 18: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

Unemployment ExperiencesI

Perceptions of EconomyII

Attributions of ResponsibilityIII

Electoral ConsequencesIV

Page 19: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

18Attributions of Responsibility

• Are individuals willing to and capable of linking perceptions of economic situations to governmental action

• Do they attribute responsibility?

• � institutional as well as psychological contingency dilemmas

• What are the determinants of attributed responsibility?

Page 20: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

19Determinants of Attributions of Responsibility

• ÊDefensive attributions“

• ÊMorselizing“

• ÊContextualization“

• Political sophistication, partisan rationalizations and cultural predispositions

• Campaigns

Page 21: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

20Data

• Rolling Cross-Section Survey covering the final 41 days of the 2005 German Federal Election campaign (n=3,583)

• Items:

– “What do you think, to what extent is the ruling government responsible for the development of this economic situation: to a large extent, to some extent or not at all?”

– Êthis economic situation“ refers to

• Individual’s own economic situation

• Situation of the national economy

Page 22: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

21Data

• ÊDefensive attributions“

• ÊMorselizing“

• ÊContextualization“

• Political sophistication, partisan rationalizations and cultural predispositions

• Campaigns

Perceived State of own and national economic

Situation

Interaction term

Interest in Politics, Party Identification, Left-Right-Placement

Time

Page 23: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

22Development of Level of Attributed Responsibility

0.5

1M

ea

n L

evel o

f A

ttributio

n

13.8. 20.8. 27.8. 3.9. 10.9. 17.9.date

Individual's economic situation Nation's economic situation

Page 24: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

23Determinants of Attributed Responsibility for …

interaction

day

PI: other

PI: Union

PI: SPD

Left-Right

Interest

Nat. Econ.

Ind. Econ.

interaction

day

PI: other

PI: Union

PI: SPD

Left-Right

Interest

Nat. Econ.

Ind. Econ.

interaction

day

PI: other

PI: Union

PI: SPD

Left-Right

Interest

Nat. Econ.

Ind. Econ.

interaction

day

PI: other

PI: Union

PI: SPD

Left-Right

Interest

Nat. Econ.

Ind. Econ.

interaction

day

PI: other

PI: Union

PI: SPD

Left-Right

Interest

Nat. Econ.

Ind. Econ.

-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4logit coefficients

interaction

day

PI: other

PI: Union

PI: SPD

Left-Right

Interest

Nat. Econ.

Ind. Econ.

interaction

day

PI: other

PI: Union

PI: SPD

Left-Right

Interest

Nat. Econ.

Ind. Econ.

interaction

day

PI: other

PI: Union

PI: SPD

Left-Right

Interest

Nat. Econ.

Ind. Econ.

interaction

day

PI: other

PI: Union

PI: SPD

Left-Right

Interest

Nat. Econ.

Ind. Econ.

interaction

day

PI: other

PI: Union

PI: SPD

Left-Right

Interest

Nat. Econ.

Ind. Econ.

-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4logit coefficients

… Individual Economic Situation … National Economic Situation

Page 25: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

24Determinants of Attributed Responsibility for …

… Individual Economic Situation

interaction

day

PI: other

PI: Union

PI: SPD

Left-Right

Interest

Nat. Econ.

Ind. Econ.

interaction

day

PI: other

PI: Union

PI: SPD

Left-Right

Interest

Nat. Econ.

Ind. Econ.

interaction

day

PI: other

PI: Union

PI: SPD

Left-Right

Interest

Nat. Econ.

Ind. Econ.

interaction

day

PI: other

PI: Union

PI: SPD

Left-Right

Interest

Nat. Econ.

Ind. Econ.

interaction

day

PI: other

PI: Union

PI: SPD

Left-Right

Interest

Nat. Econ.

Ind. Econ.

-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4logit coefficients

Page 26: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

25Predicted Probabilities

0.2

.4.6

.81

pro

babili

ty

0 .2 .4 .6 .8 1Individual economic situation

... very poor

... poor

... average

... good

... very good

National economic situation ...

Page 27: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

Unemployment ExperiencesI

Perceptions of EconomyII

Attributions of ResponsibilityIII

Electoral ConsequencesIV

Page 28: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

27Consequences of Perceptions of Economic Situations

• Kinder/Kiewiet (1979): sociotropic vs. pocketbook voting

• Empirically, sociotropic voting prevails

• Additionally: policy-oriented voting according to which certain parties “own” specific issues, e.g. left parties “own”unemployment issue, tend to be supported by people making unemployment experiences

Page 29: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

28Government Approval: Individual Unemployment

-3-2

-10

12

3u

nsta

nd

. re

gre

ssio

n c

oe

ffic

ien

ts

19

77

19

78

19

79

19

80

19

81

19

82

19

83

19

84

19

85

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

Page 30: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

29Government Approval: Perceptions of Ind. Economy

-3-2

-10

12

3u

nsta

nd

. re

gre

ssio

n c

oe

ffic

ien

ts

19

77

19

78

19

79

19

80

19

81

19

82

19

83

19

84

19

85

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

Page 31: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

30Government Approval: Perceptions of Nation. Econ.

-3-2

-10

12

3u

nsta

nd

. re

gre

ssio

n c

oe

ffic

ien

ts

19

77

19

78

19

79

19

80

19

81

19

82

19

83

19

84

19

85

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

Page 32: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

31Government Approval: Individual Unemployment

-3-2

-10

12

3u

nsta

nd

. re

gre

ssio

n c

oe

ffic

ien

ts

19

77

19

78

19

79

19

80

19

81

19

82

19

83

19

84

19

85

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

Page 33: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

32Government Approval: Perceptions of Ind. Economy

-3-2

-10

12

3u

nsta

nd

. re

gre

ssio

n c

oe

ffic

ien

ts

19

77

19

78

19

79

19

80

19

81

19

82

19

83

19

84

19

85

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

Page 34: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

33Government Approval: Perceptions of Nation. Econ.

-3-2

-10

12

3u

nsta

nd

. re

gre

ssio

n c

oe

ffic

ien

ts

19

77

19

78

19

79

19

80

19

81

19

82

19

83

19

84

19

85

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

Page 35: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

34Social Democrats: Individual Unemployment

-3-2

-10

12

3u

nsta

nd

. re

gre

ssio

n c

oe

ffic

ien

ts

19

77

19

78

19

79

19

80

19

81

19

82

19

83

19

84

19

85

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

Page 36: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

35Social Democrats: Perceptions of Ind. Economy

-3-2

-10

12

3u

nsta

nd

. re

gre

ssio

n c

oe

ffic

ien

ts

19

77

19

78

19

79

19

80

19

81

19

82

19

83

19

84

19

85

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

Page 37: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

36Social Democrats: Perceptions of Nation. Econ.

-3-2

-10

12

3u

nsta

nd

. re

gre

ssio

n c

oe

ffic

ien

ts

19

77

19

78

19

79

19

80

19

81

19

82

19

83

19

84

19

85

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

Page 38: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

37Social Democrats: Individual Unemployment

-3-2

-10

12

3u

nsta

nd

. re

gre

ssio

n c

oe

ffic

ien

ts

19

77

19

78

19

79

19

80

19

81

19

82

19

83

19

84

19

85

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

Page 39: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

38Social Democrats: Perceptions of Ind. Economy

-3-2

-10

12

3u

nsta

nd

. re

gre

ssio

n c

oe

ffic

ien

ts

19

77

19

78

19

79

19

80

19

81

19

82

19

83

19

84

19

85

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

Page 40: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

39Social Democrats: Perceptions of Nation. Econ.

-3-2

-10

12

3u

nsta

nd

. re

gre

ssio

n c

oe

ffic

ien

ts

19

77

19

78

19

79

19

80

19

81

19

82

19

83

19

84

19

85

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

Page 41: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

40Christian Democrats: Individual Unemployment

-3-2

-10

12

3u

nsta

nd

. re

gre

ssio

n c

oe

ffic

ien

ts

19

77

19

78

19

79

19

80

19

81

19

82

19

83

19

84

19

85

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

Page 42: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

41Christian Democrats: Perceptions of Ind. Economy

-3-2

-10

12

3u

nsta

nd

. re

gre

ssio

n c

oe

ffic

ien

ts

19

77

19

78

19

79

19

80

19

81

19

82

19

83

19

84

19

85

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

Page 43: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

42Christian Democrats: Perceptions of Nation. Econ.

-3-2

-10

12

3u

nsta

nd

. re

gre

ssio

n c

oe

ffic

ien

ts

19

77

19

78

19

79

19

80

19

81

19

82

19

83

19

84

19

85

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

Page 44: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

43Christian Democrats: Individual Unemployment

-3-2

-10

12

3u

nsta

nd

. re

gre

ssio

n c

oe

ffic

ien

ts

19

77

19

78

19

79

19

80

19

81

19

82

19

83

19

84

19

85

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

Page 45: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

44Christian Democrats: Perceptions of Ind. Economy

-3-2

-10

12

3u

nsta

nd

. re

gre

ssio

n c

oe

ffic

ien

ts

19

77

19

78

19

79

19

80

19

81

19

82

19

83

19

84

19

85

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

Page 46: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

45Christian Democrats: Perceptions of Nation. Econ.

-3-2

-10

12

3u

nsta

nd

. re

gre

ssio

n c

oe

ffic

ien

ts

19

77

19

78

19

79

19

80

19

81

19

82

19

83

19

84

19

85

19

86

19

87

19

88

19

89

19

90

19

91

19

92

19

93

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

Page 47: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

46Leftist Party/PDS: Individual Unemployment (East G.)

-3-2

-10

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Page 48: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

47Leftist Party: Perceptions of Ind. Economy (East G.)

-3-2

-10

12

3u

nsta

nd

. re

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Page 49: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

48Leftist Party: Perceptions of Nat. Economy (East G.)

-3-2

-10

12

3u

nsta

nd

. re

gre

ssio

n c

oe

ffic

ien

ts

19

94

19

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19

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20

00

20

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20

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03

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04

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05

Page 50: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

49Leftist Party: Individual Unemployment (West G.)

-3-2

-10

12

3u

nsta

nd

. re

gre

ssio

n c

oe

ffic

ien

ts

19

94

19

95

19

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19

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19

98

19

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20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

Page 51: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

50Leftist Party: Perceptions of Ind. Economy (West G.)

-3-2

-10

12

3u

nsta

nd

. re

gre

ssio

n c

oe

ffic

ien

ts

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

01

20

02

20

03

20

04

20

05

Page 52: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

51Leftist Party: Perceptions of Nat. Economy (West G.)

-3-2

-10

12

3u

nsta

nd

. re

gre

ssio

n c

oe

ffic

ien

ts

19

94

19

95

19

96

19

97

19

98

19

99

20

00

20

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20

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Page 53: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

52But when including attributions of responsibility …

... feelings towards Social Democrats

Ind. Econ. X Resp.

Resp. Ind. Econ.

Resp. Nat. Econ.

Ind. Econ.

Nat. Econ.

-2 -1 0 1 2unstand. regression coefficients

Ind. Econ. X Resp.

Resp. Ind. Econ.

Resp. Nat. Econ.

Ind. Econ.

Nat. Econ.

-2 -1 0 1 2unstand. regression coefficients

Ind. Econ. X Resp.

Resp. Ind. Econ.

Resp. Nat. Econ.

Ind. Econ.

Nat. Econ.

-2 -1 0 1 2unstand. regression coefficients

Page 54: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

53Conclusions

• Unemployment experiences can take on several forms and should bestudied in a differentiated way

• Unemployment experiences leave their imprint on perceptions of economic situations on different layers

• Attributions of responsibility:

• Should be studied as dependent variables to understand the mechanisms that lead to attributions of responsibility

• Should be included in economic-voting models due to their nature as intervening variables

• Policy-, but also incumbency-oriented effects of unemployment depending on party and political context

Page 55: Electoral Consequences of Unemployment Experiences

54Thank you!

• Contact:Thorsten FaasUniversity of MannheimA5, 668131 MannheimGermany

[email protected]