Globalization and Electoral Outcomes: Evidence from Italy

Did economic factors associated with globalization influence electoral dynamics in Italy over the 1994-2008 period? And if so, to what extent? Using the intensity of import competition from China and the presence of immigrants as their main units of analysis, EconPol researchers Mauro Caselli, Andrea Fracasso, and Silvio Traverso explore this question. They find that both immigration intensity and exposure to import competition from China contributed positively to the electoral outcomes of far-right parties. But only immigration intensity positively impacted votes for right-wing and traditionalist/authoritarian/nationalist parties. They also find that a higher presence of immigrants lowered electoral turnout.