UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

Why the current Peak in Populism in the US and Europe? Populism as a Deviation in the Median Voter Theorem

Figueira, F; (2018) Why the current Peak in Populism in the US and Europe? Populism as a Deviation in the Median Voter Theorem. European Journal of Government and Economics , 7 (2) pp. 154-170. 10.17979/ejge.2018.7.2.4423. Green open access

[thumbnail of Figueira_Why the current Peak in Populism in the US and Europe. Populism as a Deviation in the Median Voter Theorem_VoR.pdf]
Preview
Text
Figueira_Why the current Peak in Populism in the US and Europe. Populism as a Deviation in the Median Voter Theorem_VoR.pdf - Published Version

Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

The current surge of populism in Europe and the United States calls for further analysis using public choice tools. In this article, populism is modelled as a deviation from the normal state of the median voter theorem. This study adds to the public choice literature by proposing a model of populism which is suited, not only to left-wing populism, but also to other forms of populism prevalent in Europe and the United States today. It is argued that, due to changes in the assumptions underpinning the median voter theorem, the operation of the model can be modified, and as a result surges of populism occur. Those assumptions concern: the political spectrum; the distribution of ideological preferences; sociological, psychological and historical factors; political party competition; and extreme political preferences. It is shown that the current peak of populism in Europe and the United States can be explained through a simultaneous change in all of these aspects, leading to a “perfect storm” of populism.

Type: Article
Title: Why the current Peak in Populism in the US and Europe? Populism as a Deviation in the Median Voter Theorem
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.17979/ejge.2018.7.2.4423
Publisher version: http://doi.org/10.17979/ejge.2018.7.2.4423
Language: English
Additional information: © 2018 Filipa Figueira. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).
Keywords: Populism, Median Voter Theorem, Public Choice, Ideologies, Rational Choice
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL SLASH > SSEES
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10068678
Downloads since deposit
533Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item