Umverteilungswirkungen einer wirtschaftlichen Öffnung und Abstimmungsverhalten: Eine Analyse am Beispiel des Schweizer EWR-Entscheides

This paper analyses the connections between the redistributional effects of an opening up of the economy to foreign markets and individual voting behaviour. Theoretical considerations lead to the hypotheses that the losers will unambiguously vote against an opening of the economy at the polls whereas the winners will not be as unambiguous in voting for the bill. These hypotheses are tested using the Swiss vote in December 1992 concerning entry into the European Economic Area. The examination of the connection between the employment ratio in each canton in the sectors that would gain and those that would lose from an entry into the EEA and the approval rate per canton confirms both hypotheses. The introduction of further explanatory variables does not alter this result.