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EU transfers and euroscepticism: can’t buy me love?

Author

Listed:
  • Alessandro Borin
  • Elisa Macchi
  • Michele Mancini

Abstract

SUMMARYThe future of an institution, such as the European Union, ultimately depends on people’s support. This paper investigates whether EU redistributive policies have improved public attitudes towards European integration, both in terms of public opinion and political preferences. We focus on Cohesion Policy funds, whose allocation allows us to single out these effects by means of a regression discontinuity approach. The results show that EU transfers have mitigated the rise of Eurosceptical attitudes and reduced political consensus for anti-EU parties. The effects are homogeneous across different socio-economic groups, including the most disadvantaged ones. The improvement in public support for the EU does not appear to be exclusively a spillover of the positive economic effect of funding; we show evidence suggesting the existence of a ‘reciprocity-effect’ channel, that is, citizens in recipient regions recognize the beneficial role of the EU as the source of funding.

Suggested Citation

  • Alessandro Borin & Elisa Macchi & Michele Mancini, 2021. "EU transfers and euroscepticism: can’t buy me love?," Economic Policy, CEPR, CESifo, Sciences Po;CES;MSH, vol. 36(106), pages 237-286.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:ecpoli:v:36:y:2021:i:106:p:237-286.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/epolic/eiaa028
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    Cited by:

    1. Rodriguez-Pose Andrés & Dijkstra Lewis & Dorati Chiara, 2025. "Paying for Euroscepticism," JRC Working Papers on Territorial Modelling and Analysis 2025-09, Joint Research Centre.
    2. Riccardo Crescenzi & Marco Di Cotaldo & Mara Guia, 2019. "It’s not about the money! EU funds, local opportunities, and the Brexit vote," LEQS – LSE 'Europe in Question' Discussion Paper Series 149, European Institute, LSE.
    3. Andrés Rodríguez-Pose & Lewis Dijkstra, 2021. "Does Cohesion Policy reduce EU discontent and Euroscepticism?," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(2), pages 354-369, February.
    4. Dante Di Matteo & Ilaria Mariotti, 2021. "Italian discontent and right‐wing populism: determinants, geographies, patterns," Regional Science Policy & Practice, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 13(2), pages 371-396, April.
    5. Crescenzi, Riccardo & Di Cataldo, Marco & Giua, Mara, 2020. "It’s not about the money. EU funds, local opportunities, and Euroscepticism," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    6. Michele Cascarano & Laura Sigalotti & Francesco Stradi, 2025. "EU views and household investments: evidence from the Brexit referendum," Temi di discussione (Economic working papers) 1504, Bank of Italy, Economic Research and International Relations Area.
    7. Bayerlein, Michael & Diermeier, Matthias, 2022. "Exchanging money for love? A regional analysis of EU cohesion policy on euroscepticism," Kiel Working Papers 2219, Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
    8. Albanese, Giuseppe & Barone, Guglielmo & de Blasio, Guido, 2022. "Populist voting and losers’ discontent: Does redistribution matter?," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 141(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • H11 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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