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Joblessness and Perceptions about the Effectiveness of Democracy

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  • Duha Altindag
  • Naci Mocan

Abstract

Using micro data on more than 130,000 individuals from 69 countries, we analyze the extent to which joblessness of the individuals and the prevailing unemployment rate in the country impact perceptions of the effectiveness of democracy. We find that personal joblessness experience translates into negative opinions about the effectiveness of democracy and it increases the desire for a rouge leader. Evidence from people who live in European countries suggests that being jobless for more than a year is the source of discontent. We also find that well-educated and wealthier individuals are less likely to indicate that democracies are ineffective, regardless of joblessness. People's beliefs about the effectiveness of democracy as system of governance are also shaped by the unemployment rate in countries with low levels of democracy. The results suggest that periods of high unemployment and joblessness could hinder the development of democracy or threaten its existence.
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  • Duha Altindag & Naci Mocan, 2010. "Joblessness and Perceptions about the Effectiveness of Democracy," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 31(2), pages 99-123, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jlabre:v:31:y:2010:i:2:p:99-123
    DOI: 10.1007/s12122-010-9089-y
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    Cited by:

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    2. Hoda Abd El Hamid Ali Mohamed, 2013. "Scientific Advance and the Effectiveness of Democracy in Mena," Journal of Asian Scientific Research, Asian Economic and Social Society, vol. 3(11), pages 1058-1071, November.
    3. Schaltegger, Christoph A. & Weder, Martin, 2014. "Austerity, inequality and politics," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 35(C), pages 1-22.
    4. Wietzke, Frank-Borge, 2014. "Pathways from jobs to social cohesion," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6804, The World Bank.
    5. OUEGHLISSI, Rim & DERBALI, Ahmed, 2021. "Democracy, Corruption and Unemployment: Empirical Evidence from Developing Countries," MPRA Paper 107535, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Christian Pfeifer, 2023. "Can worker codetermination stabilize democracies? Works councils and satisfaction with democracy in Germany," Working Paper Series in Economics 420, University of Lüneburg, Institute of Economics.
    7. Mai Dao & Prakash Loungani, 2010. "The Human Cost of Recessions; Assessing It, Reducing It," IMF Staff Position Notes 2010/17, International Monetary Fund.
    8. Rim Oueghlissi & Ahmed Derbali, 2024. "Democracy, Corruption and Unemployment: Empirical Evidence from Developing Countries," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(2), pages 7475-7496, June.
    9. Mcleod,Catriona & Wietzke,Frank-Borge, 2013. "Jobs, wellbeing, and social cohesion : evidence from value and perception surveys," Policy Research Working Paper Series 6447, The World Bank.
    10. Tim Friehe & Christian Pfeifer, 2024. "Predicting satisfaction with democracy in Germany using local economic conditions, social capital, and individual characteristics," Economics of Governance, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 335-377, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Unemployment duration; Democracy; Education; Development; World Values Survey; J2; O1; P1;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J2 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor
    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development
    • P1 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies

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