The Transformation of Government Intervention in the Economy in Advanced Democracies
Quantitative studies have found that a number of traditional economic policy instruments, particularly those that have mainly been used by social democratic parties, like state owned enterprises or subsidization of industry, are in retreat. Moreover, in contrast to the first four post-war decades, the partisan complexion of government does not seem to matter much anymore in these areas. The research project investigates this retreat of the interventionist state both quantitatively and qualitatively for selected countries. In particular, we seek to find out what has driven the transformation of government intervention in the economy – globalization, diffusion or Europeanization? Moreover, we focus on the relevance of domestic variables that may mediate the impact of these factors.
Papers from this project, primarily on privatization and subsidies, include the following:
Keonhi Son and Reimut Zohlnhöfer, 2019: Measuring Privatization: Comparing five Indicators of the Disposition of State-Owned Enterprises in Advanced Democracies, Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis 21 (2019) 4: 402-422.*
Fabian Engler and Reimut Zohlnhöfer, 2019: Left Parties, Voter Preferences, and Economic Policy-Making in Europe, Journal of European Public Policy 26 (2019) 11: 1620-1638.*
Carina Schmitt and Reimut Zohlnhöfer, 2019: Partisan Differences and the Interventionist State in Advanced Democracies, Socio-Economic Review 17 (2019) 4: 969-992.*
Reimut Zohlnhöfer, Fabian Engler and Kathrin Dümig, 2018: The Retreat of the Interventionist State in Advanced Democracies, British Journal of Political Science 48 (2018) 2: 535-562.
Herbert Obinger, Carina Schmitt and Reimut Zohlnhöfer, 2014: Partisan Politics and Privatization in OECD Countries, Comparative Political Studies 47 (9): 1294-1323.
Reimut Zohlnhöfer, Herbert Obinger and Frieder Wolf , 2008: Partisan Politics, Globalization and the Determinants of Privatization Proceeds in Advanced Democracies 1990-2000, in: Governance 21 (1): 95-121.
Herbert Obinger and Reimut Zohlnhöfer, 2007: The Real Race to the Bottom: What Happened to Economic Affairs Expenditure after 1980?, in: Francis G. Castles (ed.): The Disappearing State? Retrenchment Realities in an Age of Globalisation, Cheltenham/Northampton (MA): Edward Elgar 2007, 184-214.
Reimut Zohlnhöfer and Herbert Obinger, 2006: Selling off the “Family Silver”: The Politics of Privatization Proceeds in the EU and the OECD 1990-2000, in: World Political Science Review 2 (1): 30-52.
