The observation of the remarkably stable development of inequality indicators in Germany in the relevant period suggests that it is unlikely that they represent a major explanatory factor for the rise of the AfD. Furthermore, in an EU comparison, the success of radical right-wing parties appears...

The objective of this study is to identify the fundamental determinants of citizen participation within the framework of the "Let's Take Control" initiative, implemented by the General Comptroller's Office of Manizales Municipality during 2020-2021, with a specific focus on fostering public...

Many governments operate consumer debt relief programs, often timed to match the election cycle, but their political effects are not well understood. We ask if debt relief can influence elections in democracies. Our motivating exercise is the Biden administration’s promise to relieve student...

Due to a last-minute fight among the candidates, Vox, a party at the right end of the Spanish political spectrum, could not run in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, a relatively representative electoral constituency, in the general election of July 23, 2023. Since this fight was a power struggle within...

We study how connections to German federal parliamentarians affect firm dynamics by constructing a novel dataset to measure connections between politicians and the universe of firms. To identify the causal effect of access to political power, we exploit (i) new appointments to the company...

We bring attention to a previously overlooked determinant of de jure-de facto constitutional gaps: a polity's transition to a nation-state. We argue that nation-statehood, predicated on the formation of a strong sense of national identity, lowers the government's incentive to violate...

Corporate governance is vital in the effective implementation of domestic and foreign economic policies. In this context, this study examines the role of political connections in the Indian context to understand their impact on firms' productivity and technology transfer. We ask the following...

This policy paper explores the judiciary's pivotal role in development, covering property rights, government accountability, and contract enforcement. It underscores the importance of impartial judicial institutions, focusing on independence, accountability, and their role in stabilizing global...

Trotz relativ großer Stammwählerschaften verbuchten CDU/ CSU und SPD bei der Bundestagswahl 2017 starke Verluste, weil sich viel mehr frühere Wähler und Wählerinnen abwandten als neue hinzukamen. Vor allem Beschäftigte mit Tätigkeiten mittlerer Qualifikation sowie Personen im Ruhestand...

Using a unique survey of adults in Turkey, we find that an increase in educational attainment, due to an exogenous secular education reform, decreases women's propensity to identify themselves as religious, lowers their tendency to wear a religious head cover (head scarf, turban or burka) and...