Economics, ideology and vote: southern Europe 1985-2000

Abstract

This article examines the role of the economy in electoral behaviour in Greece, Portugal and Spain. The first part studies the objective economic state of these countries and the types of measures adopted by governments before elections. The second part draws up a vote function for Greece, Portugal and Spain and tests the impact of the tactical vote in these countries. The article shows that economics are more significant than social class in the countries studied, but particularly in Portugal. However, the factor which has the greatest impact on electoral behaviour in the three countries is ideology. In addition, the data obtained do not lend strong support to the idea that greater accountability is positively associated with a stronger impact for the tactical vote.