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Globalization and populism in Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Andreas Bergh

    (Lund University
    The Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN))

  • Anders Kärnä

    (The Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN)
    Örebro University)

Abstract

Recent micro-level studies have suggested that globalization—in particular, economic globalization and trade with China—breeds political polarization and populism. This study examines whether or not those results generalize by examining the country-level association between vote shares for European populist parties and economic globalization. Using data on vote shares for 267 right-wing and left-wing populist parties in 33 European countries during 1980–2017, and globalization data from the KOF institute, we find no evidence of a positive association between (economic or other types of) globalization and populism. EU membership is associated with a 4–6-percentage-point larger vote share for right-wing populist parties.

Suggested Citation

  • Andreas Bergh & Anders Kärnä, 2021. "Globalization and populism in Europe," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 189(1), pages 51-70, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:pubcho:v:189:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1007_s11127-020-00857-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s11127-020-00857-8
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    Cited by:

    1. Sjöholm, Fredrik, 2023. "The Return of Borders in the World Economy: An EU-Perspective," Working Paper Series 1469, Research Institute of Industrial Economics.
    2. Andrés Rodríguez-Pose & Javier Terrero-Dávila & Neil Lee, 2023. "Left-behind versus unequal places: interpersonal inequality, economic decline and the rise of populism in the USA and Europe," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 23(5), pages 951-977.
    3. Güvercin, Deniz, 2022. "Digitalization and populism: Cross-country evidence," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    4. Marcelo Santos & Marta Simões, 2021. "Globalisation, Welfare Models and Social Expenditure in OECD Countries," Open Economies Review, Springer, vol. 32(5), pages 1063-1088, November.
    5. Kärnä, Anders & Meriläinen, Jaakko & Norell, John, 2024. "The Price of Exclusion: Coalition Formation in the Shadow of Rising Radical Right," Working Paper Series 1507, Research Institute of Industrial Economics.
    6. Andres Rodriguez-Pose & Javier Terrero-Davila & Neil Lee, 2023. "Left-behind vs. unequal places: interpersonal inequality, economic decline, and the rise of populism in the US and Europe," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2306, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Mar 2023.
    7. Celico, Andrea & Rode, Martin & Rodriguez-Carreño, Ignacio, 2024. "Will the real populists please stand up? A machine learning index of party populism," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    8. Bergh, Andreas & Kärnä, Anders, 2024. "Populist Parties’ Popularity Post Power," Working Paper Series 1491, Research Institute of Industrial Economics.
    9. Osman S Kiratli, 2023. "Loving globalization: High-growth enterprises and public opinion on globalization in Europe," European Union Politics, , vol. 24(2), pages 286-306, June.
    10. Regina Pleninger & Jakob de Haan & Jan‐Egbert Sturm, 2022. "The ‘Forgotten’ middle class: An analysis of the effects of globalisation," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(1), pages 76-110, January.
    11. François Facchini & Louis Jaeck, 2021. "Populism and the rational choice model: The case of the French National Front," Rationality and Society, , vol. 33(2), pages 196-228, May.
    12. Backes, Annika & Mueller, Steffen, 2024. "Import shocks and voting behavior in Europe revisited," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    13. Ferré, Montserrat & Manzano, Carolina, 2022. "The macroeconomic impact of radical right populist parties in government," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    14. Strobl, Martin & Sáenz de Viteri, Andrea & Rode, Martin & Bjørnskov, Christian, 2023. "Populism and inequality: Does reality match the populist rhetoric?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 207(C), pages 1-17.
    15. Christian Reiner, 2022. "It's the End of Globalization as We Know It! Zeitgemaesse Betrachtungen zur politischen Oekonomik der Globalisierungskrise," ICAE Working Papers 141, Johannes Kepler University, Institute for Comprehensive Analysis of the Economy.
    16. Berggren, Niclas & Bjørnskov, Christian, 2023. "Does globalization suppress social trust?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 214(C), pages 443-458.
    17. Giray Gozgor, 2022. "The role of economic uncertainty in the rise of EU populism," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 190(1), pages 229-246, January.
    18. Bačo, Tomáš & Baumöhl, Eduard, 2021. "Socioeconomic factors and shifts in ideological orientation among political parties: Parliamentary elections in Slovakia from 1998 to 2020," EconStor Preprints 246584, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Globalization; Populism; Trade;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • P16 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Capitalist Institutions; Welfare State
    • F68 - International Economics - - Economic Impacts of Globalization - - - Policy

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