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The effect of international actors on public support for government spending decisions

Author

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  • Pinto, Pablo M.
  • Rickard, Stephanie
  • Vreeland, James Raymond

Abstract

Does the intervention of an international organization in domestic politics render policy change more popular? While voters may ultimately care only about policy outcomes, the involvement of international actors often seems to lead to resentment. Still, citizens may have greater faith in the wisdom of international actors than in their own government. As others have argued, a well-respected international actor might provide a cue, especially for voters considering controversial policies like spending cuts. We test this argument in a novel pre–post experimental panel study conducted in Spain. We find that citizens become less opposed to unpopular spending cuts when informed that they are required by an international institution. The effects differ, however, across the two organizations that we test: They are stronger for the European Union than for the International Monetary Fund. Our findings lend support to studies arguing that the endorsement of specific international organizations can help push through otherwise unpopular policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Pinto, Pablo M. & Rickard, Stephanie & Vreeland, James Raymond, 2025. "The effect of international actors on public support for government spending decisions," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 125938, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    • Handle: RePEc:ehl:lserod:125938
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    File URL: http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/125938/
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Brilé Anderson & Thomas Bernauer & Aya Kachi, 2019. "Does international pooling of authority affect the perceived legitimacy of global governance?," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 661-683, December.
    2. Meseguer,Covadonga, 2009. "Learning, Policy Making, and Market Reforms," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521516969, November.
    3. Clifford, Scott & Sheagley, Geoffrey & Piston, Spencer, 2021. "Increasing Precision without Altering Treatment Effects: Repeated Measures Designs in Survey Experiments," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 115(3), pages 1048-1065, August.
    4. Henning Schmidtke, 2019. "Elite legitimation and delegitimation of international organizations in the media: Patterns and explanations," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 633-659, December.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • F53 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - International Agreements and Observance; International Organizations
    • H60 - Public Economics - - National Budget, Deficit, and Debt - - - General

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