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Pushed by markets, pulled by machines: Economic pressures and the backlash to the European Union

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  • Jaewook Lee

Abstract

Global economic integration and automation technologies destabilise employment and threaten workers’ economic security, yet their combined political effects remain understudied. Using data from the ninth wave of the European Social Survey, this study examines how automation risks, measured by routine-task intensity and export-driven market pressure, foster Euroscepticism. This study finds that while routineness alone has a modest effect, its combination with trade exposure significantly amplifies negative sentiment towards the European Union, especially among individuals who perceive society as unfair and support redistribution. These economic vulnerabilities not only fuel Euroscepticism but also increase support for withdrawal from the European Union. The findings highlight the need for policies that mitigate technology-driven displacement, particularly for workers with high routine-task intensity in export-oriented sectors, with reinforcing fairness and redistributive mechanisms to sustain support for European integration.

Suggested Citation

  • Jaewook Lee, 2026. "Pushed by markets, pulled by machines: Economic pressures and the backlash to the European Union," European Union Politics, , vol. 27(1), pages 3-31, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:eeupol:v:27:y:2026:i:1:p:3-31
    DOI: 10.1177/14651165251395305
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