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On the determinants of political polarization

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  • Grechyna, Daryna

Abstract

In this article, we aim to identify the main determinants of political polarization using Bayesian Model Averaging to overcome the problem of model uncertainty. We find that the level of trust within a country and the degree of income inequality are the most robust determinants of political polarization.

Suggested Citation

  • Grechyna, Daryna, 2016. "On the determinants of political polarization," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 10-14.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:144:y:2016:i:c:p:10-14
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2016.04.018
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    Cited by:

    1. Nazlı KEYİFLİ & Sacit Hadi AKDEDE, 2020. "Political Polarization and Size of Government," Sosyoekonomi Journal, Sosyoekonomi Society, issue 28(44).
    2. Tribin, Ana, 2020. "Chasing votes with the public budget," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    3. Sajad Rahimian, 2021. "The Determinants of Democracy Revisited: An Instrumental Variable Bayesian Model Averaging Approach," Papers 2103.04255, arXiv.org.
    4. Grechyna, Daryna, 2023. "Can conflicts unite a nation?," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    5. Proaño Acosta, Christian & Peña, Juan Carlos & Saalfeld, Thomas, 2019. "Inequality, macroeconomic performance and political polarization: An empirical analysis," BERG Working Paper Series 149, Bamberg University, Bamberg Economic Research Group.
    6. Boulton, Thomas J., 2022. "Economic policy uncertainty and international IPO underpricing," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    7. Sacit Hadi Akdede & Jinyoung Hwang & Nazlı Keyifli, 2023. "Dominant Religion, Radical Right-Wing, and Social Trust: An Empirical Investigation," Journal of Economy Culture and Society, Istanbul University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 67(67), pages 21-34, June.
    8. Jianchun Fang & Giray Gozgor & Cheng Yan, 2021. "Does globalisation alleviate polarisation?," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(4), pages 1031-1052, April.
    9. Melki, Mickael & Sekeris, Petros, 2019. "Media-driven polarization: Evidence from the US," Economics - The Open-Access, Open-Assessment E-Journal (2007-2020), Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel), vol. 13, pages 1-13.
    10. Boxell, Levi, 2020. "Demographic change and political polarization in the United States," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    11. Danielle Wood & John Daley & Carmela Chivers, 2018. "Australia Demonstrates the Rise of Populism is About More than Economics," Australian Economic Review, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, vol. 51(3), pages 399-410, September.
    12. Daryna Grechyna, 2023. "Political polarization in the UK: measures and socioeconomic correlates," Constitutional Political Economy, Springer, vol. 34(2), pages 210-225, June.
    13. Verhoeven, Loesje & Ritzen, Jo, 2022. "Globalisation increased trust in northern and western Europe between 2002 and 2018," MERIT Working Papers 2022-005, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    14. Hans Pitlik & Martin Rode, 2021. "Radical Distrust: Are Economic Policy Attitudes Tempered by Social Trust?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 158(2), pages 485-506, December.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Political polarization determinants; Model uncertainty; Bayesian model averaging;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • P5 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Comparative Economic Systems
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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