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Inter-regional redistribution and the German party system

Werner, Freja LU (2019) STVM25 20191
Department of Political Science
Abstract
This study is motivated by the recent changes in the German party system which have resulted in the loss of the electoral support of the traditional parties CDU and SPD as well as in the increase of parliamentary influence of the various smaller parties. Earlier studies suggest an inter-state conflict about regional autonomy possibly caused by the current fiscal equalization system. The meaning of the system is to overcome regional economic disparities. The hypothesis of this thesis is that the recent party system changes with a high leverage of smaller fraction parties are rooted in the inter-state conflicts caused by the fiscal interregional redistribution. These smaller parties with the full focus on the regional needs in the state... (More)
This study is motivated by the recent changes in the German party system which have resulted in the loss of the electoral support of the traditional parties CDU and SPD as well as in the increase of parliamentary influence of the various smaller parties. Earlier studies suggest an inter-state conflict about regional autonomy possibly caused by the current fiscal equalization system. The meaning of the system is to overcome regional economic disparities. The hypothesis of this thesis is that the recent party system changes with a high leverage of smaller fraction parties are rooted in the inter-state conflicts caused by the fiscal interregional redistribution. These smaller parties with the full focus on the regional needs in the state parliaments have managed to challenge a previous well- established party system. By applying qualitative analysis of election manifestos and statistical methods in studying the inter-state differences and the impact the fiscal equalization system has had on these differences, this study sheds light on how the inter-state conflicts of interest have remodified the existing party system, especially on the regional level. The results show that the conflict of interest regarding fiscal equalization has played a relevant role in the political outcome. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Werner, Freja LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Analysis of the fiscal equalization system and the combined support for small parties in state parliaments
course
STVM25 20191
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Party system, Germany, interregional redistribution, fiscal system
language
English
id
8992012
date added to LUP
2019-09-06 09:25:14
date last changed
2019-09-06 09:25:19
@misc{8992012,
  abstract     = {{This study is motivated by the recent changes in the German party system which have resulted in the loss of the electoral support of the traditional parties CDU and SPD as well as in the increase of parliamentary influence of the various smaller parties. Earlier studies suggest an inter-state conflict about regional autonomy possibly caused by the current fiscal equalization system. The meaning of the system is to overcome regional economic disparities. The hypothesis of this thesis is that the recent party system changes with a high leverage of smaller fraction parties are rooted in the inter-state conflicts caused by the fiscal interregional redistribution. These smaller parties with the full focus on the regional needs in the state parliaments have managed to challenge a previous well- established party system. By applying qualitative analysis of election manifestos and statistical methods in studying the inter-state differences and the impact the fiscal equalization system has had on these differences, this study sheds light on how the inter-state conflicts of interest have remodified the existing party system, especially on the regional level. The results show that the conflict of interest regarding fiscal equalization has played a relevant role in the political outcome.}},
  author       = {{Werner, Freja}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Inter-regional redistribution and the German party system}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}