To adapt or to disregard? Parties' reactions to external shocks. Issue 3 (16th April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Calca, Patrícia; Gross, Martin
• Is Part Of: West European politics. Volume 42:Issue 3(2019)
• Page Start: 545
• Page End: 572
• Publication Date: 2019-04-16
• Subjects: External shock -- party positions -- global financial crisis -- policy shifts -- policy responsiveness; Europe -- Politics and government -- 1945- -- Periodicals; 320.94
• DOI: 10.1080/01402382.2018.1549851
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0140-2382

Abstract

Abstract: How do parties react to unanticipated events such as external shocks? Do they adapt to the consequences of the external shock or do they disregard them? Using the global financial crisis as an empirical example and testing the expectations for parties' economic policy shifts in 23 European democracies based on Chapel Hill Expert Survey data, the article demonstrates that government parties react more to an external shock than opposition parties, particularly in countries where the external shock has been more severe. This has implications for a broader literature in comparative politics by fostering the dialogue between the political economy literature on external shocks and the literature on party policy shifts by showing the significant impact exogenous events can have on party positioning.