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Voting for trade protectionist parties: Evidence from nine waves of the European Social Survey

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  • Enrique García-Viñuela

    (16734Department of Applied Economics, Public Economics and Political Economy, Faculty of Law, Complutense University Madrid, Madrid, Spain)

  • Nicolas Motz

    (16734Department of Applied Economics, Public Economics and Political Economy, Faculty of Law, Complutense University Madrid, Madrid, Spain)

  • Pedro Riera

    (16726Department of Social Sciences, University Carlos III Madrid, Madrid, Spain)

Abstract

This article empirically investigates the impact of globalization on voting behavior. Specifically, combining individual-level data from the first nine waves of the European Social Survey, party-level information from the Comparative Manifesto Project, and country-level data from Eurostat, we study the individual determinants of the vote for trade protectionist parties. Our findings show, firstly, that protectionist parties mainly receive electoral support from less-educated voters, unemployed individuals, and members of labor unions. Secondly, we test the compensation principle using a macro measure of a country's compensation potential and find, contrary to expectations, no significant evidence that a greater potential to mitigate the labor market adjustment costs resulting from economic openness deters the propensity to vote for protectionist parties in national elections.

Suggested Citation

  • Enrique García-Viñuela & Nicolas Motz & Pedro Riera, 2024. "Voting for trade protectionist parties: Evidence from nine waves of the European Social Survey," European Union Politics, , vol. 25(3), pages 527-548, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:eeupol:v:25:y:2024:i:3:p:527-548
    DOI: 10.1177/14651165241237611
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