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Satisfied or Bregret? Long-Term Implications of the Brexit Vote on Life Satisfaction

Author

Listed:
  • Wolfgang Maennig

    (Chair for Economic Policy, University of Hamburg)

  • Niklas Rohde

    (Chair for Economic Policy, University of Hamburg)

Abstract

We provide long-run regional evidence on how local support for Brexit is associated with post-referendum life satisfaction. Covering 348 UK local authorities from 2011 to 2022, we find that after the 2016 referendum higher district-level Leave vote shares are associated with relative increases in life satisfaction. These results are robust across alternative treatment definitions, dynamic specifications, regional sensitivity checks and controls for the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional analyses suggest that the association emerges immediately after the referendum, is stronger in structurally vulnerable districts, and is weaker in areas with stronger petition-based demand for reversing Brexit. The findings may be associated with a regional political “winner effect†and/or may reflect alignment between regional political preferences and the referendum outcome.

Suggested Citation

  • Wolfgang Maennig & Niklas Rohde, 2026. "Satisfied or Bregret? Long-Term Implications of the Brexit Vote on Life Satisfaction," Working Papers 084, Chair for Economic Policy, University of Hamburg.
    • Handle: RePEc:hce:wpaper:084
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    File URL: http://www.hced.uni-hamburg.de/WorkingPapers/HCED-084.pdf
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    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
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs

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