Affluence, Austerity and Electoral Change in Britain

An original account of why individuals choose one party over another, and why elections are won or lost in Britain.

Paul Whiteley (Author), Harold D. Clarke (Author), David Sanders (Author), Marianne C. Stewart (Author)

9781107024243, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 12 September 2013

332 pages, 75 b/w illus. 31 tables
23.4 x 15.7 x 2.1 cm, 0.59 kg

'There are 'good' election surveys and 'great' election surveys. The British Election Survey (BES), led by the Essex team, comes as close to the second category as any election survey yet. In this volume, these scholars combine concise data analysis with elegant prose, to explain how Brits pick their national political leaders. The story has elements of drama: the Northern Rock Bank failure, the hung parliament. And, there's continuity, such as the decline of class voting and the strength of valence issues such as the economy. The investigation uses avant garde research techniques, including the Continuous Monitoring Survey and internet sampling. The methodological and intellectual edge of the work furthers a tradition begun in the first BES, launched 50 years ago. [This book] stands as a fitting commemoration of that milestone.' Michael S. Lewis-Beck, F. Wendell Miller Distinguished Professor of Political Science, University of Iowa

Affluence, Austerity and Electoral Change in Britain investigates the political economy of party support for British political parties since Tony Blair led New Labour to power in 1997. Using valence politics models of electoral choice and marshalling an unprecedented wealth of survey data collected in the British Election Study's monthly Continuous Monitoring Surveys, the authors trace forces affecting support for New Labour during its thirteen years in office. They then study how the recessionary economy has influenced the dynamics of party support since the Conservative–Liberal Democrat Coalition came to power in May 2010 and factors that shaped voting in Britain's May 2011 national referendum on changing the electoral system. Placing Britain in comparative perspective with cross-national survey data gathered in the midst of the worst recession since the 1930s, the authors investigate how the economic crisis has affected support for incumbent governments and democratic politics in over twenty European countries.

1. The politics of affluence and austerity
2. Tony's politics: prosperity and performance
3. Gordon's politics: economic crisis and political change
4. 'I agree with Nick': campaigning for change in 2010
5. Making political choices: 2010
6. Bearish Britain: the Coalition in power
7. Choosing how to choose: the AV ballot referendum
8. Performance politics and subjective well-being
9. Valence politics, austerity policies and electoral prospects
Appendix A. Structure of the 2010 British Election Study
Appendix B. Measurement.

Subject Areas: Elections & referenda [JPHF], Comparative politics [JPB], Politics & government [JP], Sociology [JHB]