A presentation by Thomas Kurer, Assistant Professor, Zurich. This event is part of the Political Economy Lunch Seminar (PELS).
Previous research links economic vulnerability from labor market changes to political discontent and the rise of the radical right. This paper (co-authored with Reto Bürgisser, Silja Häusermann and Susana de Pinho Tavares) explores whether governments can mitigate this backlash through policy interventions. While austerity measures increase political resentment, little is known about the reverse effect. We examine the political implications of the French Professional Security Contract (CSP), introduced in 2011 to support workers affected by structural economic change. Using comprehensive register data, we first demonstrate that the CSP program reduces radical right support at the municipal level. We complement this analysis with original micro-level evidence to better understand underlying mechanisms. A survey among the entire French population confirms that direct or indirect program support reduces radical right support. We further show that the CSP is generally evaluated as an effective policy intervention both in terms of material benefits but also, and especially, with respect to non-material aspects providing a sense of respect and recognition. We corroborate the relevance of this status-maintenance effect with a unique study among previous CSP beneficiaries administered in collaboration with the French employment agency. Our findings highlight the dual importance of material compensation and social recognition in reducing political discontent.
Please register for this event by sending an email to Amanda Slater: ([email protected]) or by using the registration form on the sidebar.