"Exploring the Relationship between Economic Growth and Public Attitudes toward European Integration"

Mahler, Vincent, and Taylor, Bruce, and Wozniak, Jennifer. (1995) "Exploring the Relationship between Economic Growth and Public Attitudes toward European Integration". In: UNSPECIFIED, Charleston, South Carolina. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

[From the introduction] The intention of this paper is to explore trends in public attitudes toward the EU over the last two decades using cumulative data available from the Eurobarometer series of public opinion polls. The basic question addressed in the paper is whether trends in public opinion are affected by trends in economic well-being. The expectation of those who believe that the EU has already achieved a substantial degree of supranational authority, particularly in the area of economic policy, is that momentum toward greater integration is unlikely to be slowed by economic downturns--that, in fact, the public is as likely to seek supranational as national solutions to economic problems. Those who are more doubtful that supranationalism has truly superseded national sovereignty disagree, arguing that in economic hard times supranational institutions will be undermined by intense competition among nation-states and the public will increasingly look to the national level for relief.

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