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System Change, Learning and Public Opinion about the Economy

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  • ANDERSON, CHRISTOPHER J.
  • O'CONNER, KATHLEEN M.

Abstract

This study examines attitudes about the economy under conditions of system change. We argue that citizens in new market economics are relative novices with regard to understanding the new economic environment at the beginning of the transition phase, but that they accumulate experience as time passes. We develop and test two hypotheses: (1) we expect that, over time, economic perceptions more closely track objective economic performance; (2) as a corollary, we hypothesize that, over time, economic policy priorities of citizens in a new market economy more closely track objective economic performance. Time-series data of objective economic indicators and public opinion collected in East Germany between 1991 and 1995 are analysed using regression analyses and tests of structural change in parameters. We find that East Germans' economic perceptions correspond to actual economic trends as they develop experience with the political-economic system. The implications of our findings for research on the relationship between the economy and political support in societies in transition are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Anderson, Christopher J. & O'Conner, Kathleen M., 2000. "System Change, Learning and Public Opinion about the Economy," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 30(1), pages 147-172, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:bjposi:v:30:y:2000:i:01:p:147-172_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Frank Graves, 2001. "The Economy Through Public Lens: Shifting Canadian Views of the Economy," The Review of Economic Performance and Social Progress, in: Andrew Sharpe, Executive Director & France St-Hilaire, Vice-President , Research & Keith Banting, Di (ed.), The Review of Economic Performance and Social Progress 2001: The Longest Decade: Canada in the 1990s, volume 1, Centre for the Study of Living Standards;The Institutute for Research on Public Policy.
    2. Orla Doyle & Patrick Paul Walsh, 2005. "Did political constraints bind during transition? Evidence from Czech elections 1990 - 2002," Trinity Economics Papers 2000515, Trinity College Dublin, Department of Economics.
    3. Lucie Coufalová & Lenka Kolajtová & Libor Žídek, 2023. "Public support for economic transition," Economics of Transition and Institutional Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(1), pages 161-187, January.
    4. repec:tcd:wpaper:tep15 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Jungeilges, Jochen A. & Theisen, Theis, 2008. "A comparative study of equity judgements in Lithuania and Norway," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 1090-1118, June.
    6. Orla Doyle & Patrick Paul Walsh, 2007. "Did political constraints bind during transition?," The Economics of Transition, The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, vol. 15, pages 575-601, July.

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