Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/266622 
Year of Publication: 
2022
Series/Report no.: 
Kiel Working Paper No. 2231
Version Description: 
This Version: December 2022
Publisher: 
Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel), Kiel
Abstract: 
A widely held view is that increasing globalisation and inequality are fostering support for populist actors. Surprisingly, when focusing on Germany and the U.S., populist voting is highest in less globalised regions with rather equal income distributions. Addressing this puzzle, I ask how the regional variance in populist voting can be explained. In my answer, I introduce the concept of spatial inequality, which describes the regional inequality within countries, and construct a measure of public goods scarcity. I argue that the spatial inequality induced feeling of being left behind is positively correlated with populist voting and that this effect is mitigated by public goods provision. Using county level data to develop spatial inequality and public good scarcity indices, I can provide empirical support for these arguments. The findings have important implications for understanding the sub-national variance in populist voting and the role of relative economic deprivation as well as public goods provision.
Subjects: 
Populism
Voting Behaviour
Inequality
Public Goods
Regional Economics
JEL: 
D31
D63
D72
H41
R11
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.