When distrust goes viral: causal effects of Covid-19 on European political attitudes
Daniele, Gianmarco ; Mfartinangeli, Andrea F. M. ; Passarelli, Francesco ; Sas, Willem ; Windsteiger, Lisa
CESifo - Munich
2020
40 p.
epidemic disease ; public opinion ; political behaviour ; populism ; welfare state
CESifo working paper
8804
Social sciences
English
Bibliogr.
"To investigate how Covid-19 is shaping the way Europeans think about institutions, we conducted a large online survey experiment during the first wave of the epidemic (June). With a randomised survey ow we varied whether respondents are given Covid-related treatment questions first, before answering the outcome questions. We find that the crisis has severely undermined trust in politicians, the media, the EU and social welfare spending financed by taxes. This is mainly due to economic insecurity, but also because of health concerns. We also uncover a rallying effect around (scientific) expertise combined with populist policies losing ground."
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