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Active Labour Market Policy and Election Dates

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  • Mario Mechtel
  • Niklas Potrafke

Abstract

Many studies have shown that the decision by voters to give or withdraw their support of a government in power depends on their assessment of its performance in relation to the labour market situation. For this reason governments have an incentive to reduce unemployment, in order to win popularity and increase their chances of re-election, especially in the run-up to elections. According to a current study based on data for Western German states from 1985 to 2004, a possible way for governments to achieve this goal is by introducing active labour market policy measures to reduce official unemployment figures before voters go to the polls.

Suggested Citation

  • Mario Mechtel & Niklas Potrafke, 2012. "Active Labour Market Policy and Election Dates," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 65(16), pages 35-37, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ifosdt:v:65:y:2012:i:16:p:35-37
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    References listed on IDEAS

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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
    • J21 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Force and Employment, Size, and Structure

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