How do specific crisis-policies influence voting behavior?

What is it about?

This paper examines how voters view specific measures implemented by the government in times of crisis, and whether and how these evaluations influence their voting behavior. It analyzes two prominent policies that the German government implemented during the Global Financial Crisis of 2007-2009: the car-scrap bonus ("Abwrackprämie") and the public guarantee for banks. We find that the car-scrap bonus was less popular than the public guarantee for banks, and that voters who viewed these policies more favorably were more likely to approve of and to vote for the two incumbent parties. These evaluations of specific policies influenced individuals' vote choice in addition to their assessments of the economic situation more generally and in addition to party identification.

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Why is it important?

Our findings suggest that even in the greatest economic turmoil with blurred political responsibilities, government parties can win or lose voters through the implementation of specific economic policies.