Iceland on the Rocks: The Mass Political Economy of Sovereign Debt Resettlement. (9th June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Curtis, K. Amber; Jupille, Joseph; Leblang, David
• Is Part Of: International organization. Volume 68:Number 3(2014:Jul.)
• Page Start: 721
• Page End: 740
• Publication Date: 2014-06-09
• Subjects: International organization -- Periodicals; Economic policy -- Periodicals; National security -- Periodicals; 341
• DOI: 10.1017/S0020818314000034
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-8183

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="normal"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>We undertake an individual-level analysis of mass political behavior toward sovereign debt resettlement by leveraging the unique circumstances of a 2011 referendum on debt repayment in Iceland. This allows us to engage broader questions about mass international political economy. Against the recent thrust of a growing literature, we find evidence of material economic "pocketbook" effects—self-interest—on voting behavior, operating alongside symbolic/sociotropic and partisan/political logics. Contrary to expectations, these self-interest effects are not conditional on voter sophistication. We conclude that conventional sampling frames may be inappropriate for understanding contemporary democratic contestation over international economic policy.</p> </abstract>