The impact of local social spending on the political dissatisfaction of economically deprived individuals — Evidence from Dutch municipalities
Previous research demonstrates that local conditions are highly visible and proximate for citizens and thus have a distinct impact on political attitude formation. However, we still lack knowledge of the interplay of the local and the individual level. In this study, we examine how a specific group...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Political Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpos.2025.1516985/full |
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| author | Teresa Hummler Paul Vierus |
| author_facet | Teresa Hummler Paul Vierus |
| author_sort | Teresa Hummler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Previous research demonstrates that local conditions are highly visible and proximate for citizens and thus have a distinct impact on political attitude formation. However, we still lack knowledge of the interplay of the local and the individual level. In this study, we examine how a specific group (economically deprived individuals) responds to local social spending in the formation of political dissatisfaction. Research at the national level has provided contradictory findings concerning the influence of social policy measures. To shed new light on this interrelationship, we investigate the extent to which the individual link between economic hardship and political dissatisfaction is moderated by the level of local social spending. To empirically gauge this, we use panel data from the Netherlands merged with municipality-level data on social spending. Results from multilevel regressions reveal that the positive relationship between economic hardship and political dissatisfaction is mitigated in municipalities with higher levels of local social spending, suggesting a resource effect. Changes in the economic situation over time play a crucial role in this regard since the connection between economic hardship and political dissatisfaction is particularly pronounced for individuals in constant economic hardship. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0fa984cc69fd418e92c883fafc906a9a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-3145 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Political Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-0fa984cc69fd418e92c883fafc906a9a2025-02-12T07:26:15ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Political Science2673-31452025-02-01710.3389/fpos.2025.15169851516985The impact of local social spending on the political dissatisfaction of economically deprived individuals — Evidence from Dutch municipalitiesTeresa HummlerPaul VierusPrevious research demonstrates that local conditions are highly visible and proximate for citizens and thus have a distinct impact on political attitude formation. However, we still lack knowledge of the interplay of the local and the individual level. In this study, we examine how a specific group (economically deprived individuals) responds to local social spending in the formation of political dissatisfaction. Research at the national level has provided contradictory findings concerning the influence of social policy measures. To shed new light on this interrelationship, we investigate the extent to which the individual link between economic hardship and political dissatisfaction is moderated by the level of local social spending. To empirically gauge this, we use panel data from the Netherlands merged with municipality-level data on social spending. Results from multilevel regressions reveal that the positive relationship between economic hardship and political dissatisfaction is mitigated in municipalities with higher levels of local social spending, suggesting a resource effect. Changes in the economic situation over time play a crucial role in this regard since the connection between economic hardship and political dissatisfaction is particularly pronounced for individuals in constant economic hardship.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpos.2025.1516985/fulllocal social spendingeconomic hardshippolitical dissatisfactionmultilevel regressionNetherlands |
| spellingShingle | Teresa Hummler Paul Vierus The impact of local social spending on the political dissatisfaction of economically deprived individuals — Evidence from Dutch municipalities Frontiers in Political Science local social spending economic hardship political dissatisfaction multilevel regression Netherlands |
| title | The impact of local social spending on the political dissatisfaction of economically deprived individuals — Evidence from Dutch municipalities |
| title_full | The impact of local social spending on the political dissatisfaction of economically deprived individuals — Evidence from Dutch municipalities |
| title_fullStr | The impact of local social spending on the political dissatisfaction of economically deprived individuals — Evidence from Dutch municipalities |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of local social spending on the political dissatisfaction of economically deprived individuals — Evidence from Dutch municipalities |
| title_short | The impact of local social spending on the political dissatisfaction of economically deprived individuals — Evidence from Dutch municipalities |
| title_sort | impact of local social spending on the political dissatisfaction of economically deprived individuals evidence from dutch municipalities |
| topic | local social spending economic hardship political dissatisfaction multilevel regression Netherlands |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpos.2025.1516985/full |
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