Emotions and Political Unrest

Francesco Passarelli and Guido Tabellini

No 474, Working Papers from IGIER (Innocenzo Gasparini Institute for Economic Research), Bocconi University

Abstract: This paper formulates a general theory of how political unrest influences public policy. Political unrest is motivated by emotions. Individuals engage in protests if they are aggrieved and feel that they have been treated unfairly. This reaction is predictable because individuals have a con sistent view of what is fair. This framework yields novel insights about the sources of political influence of different groups in society. Even if the government is benevolent and all groups have access to the same technology for political participation, equilibrium policy can be distorted. Individuals form their view of what is fair taking into account the current state of the world. If fewer aggregate resources are available, individuals accept a lower level of welfare. This resignation effect in turn induces a benevolent government to procrastinate unpleasant policy choices.

Date: 2013
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-pol
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (27)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Emotions and Political Unrest (2017)
Working Paper: Emotions and Political Unrest (2013)
Working Paper: Emotions and Political Unrest (2013)
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