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Trading votes: what drives MEP support for trade liberalisation?

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  • Basedow, Robert
  • Hoerner, Julian

Abstract

Which factors drive support of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) for trade liberalisation? The literature suggests that economic factors, ideology, and politicization shape MEP voting behaviour. Drawing on a new dataset encompassing all trade-related MEP votes (2009-2019), this study offers a quantitative assessment of the determinants of MEP support for trade liberalisation. It finds that ideological factors have the strongest and most persistent effect on MEP support for trade liberalisation. The economic competitiveness of MEPs’ home regions, in turn, has only a limited effect. Politicization, lastly, has an unclear effect on its own and mostly influences MEP voting behaviour through interactions with ideological and economic factors. The study offers the first comprehensive assessment of the determinants of MEP voting on trade liberalisation and contributes to political economy research on electoral institutions and trade, the European Parliament’s role in trade policy and the effects of politicization on policy-making.

Suggested Citation

  • Basedow, Robert & Hoerner, Julian, 2024. "Trading votes: what drives MEP support for trade liberalisation?," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 119995, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:119995
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/119995/
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ehrlich, Sean D., 2007. "Access to Protection: Domestic Institutions and Trade Policy in Democracies," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 61(3), pages 571-605, July.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    trade; European Parliament; voting; politicization;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L81 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Retail and Wholesale Trade; e-Commerce

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