Attitudes towards Federalism in Germany and Switzerland (AttFed)
The research is divided into two sub-projects. In the first sub-project, several dimensions of attitudes towards federalism are conceptualized. The aim is to improve on previous studies by using differentiated indicators to measure regional identity through web probing (a survey method that integrates cognitive interviewing techniques into online surveys) and by using data collected from all regions of a country from a large number of respondents, thus allowing for the efficient application of multilevel analysis techniques. In the second sub-project, the variability (and stability) of preferences for centralization is explored. Existing research shows that the population is not particularly well informed about the federal division of powers and that its attitudes may thus be inconsistent. These issues are explored further using a vignette experiment, asking respondents to evaluate reform proposals on various topics that would involve a shift of responsibility from the regional to the national level. The influence of a strong regional identity in handling arguments about the pros and cons of federalism will also be studied.
This is a collaboration with Eva-Maria Trüdinger and Achim Hildebrandt from the University of Stuttgart and is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). We will conduct our public survey in 2023 and expect to present the first findings in 2024.
Politicians’ Evaluation of Public Opinion Perceptions (POLEVPOP)
The main question in this project is how politicians form their perceptions of the public opinion. In the first wave (POLPOP I), the project focus on surveying Swiss politicians from the National Council (« Nationalrat ») and the Council of States (« Ständerat ») as well as regional politicians.. As part of our study, we ask politicians to estimate what percentage of the population is in favor (or against) a specific and timely policy proposal. An exceptionally high number of 368 Swiss politicians participated in our study (61-88% per parliament). A representative survey among 10’000 Swiss citizens was conducted to learn what they think about very specific policy proposals. In the second wave, we will focus on political conflicts.
This project is a collaboration with Prof. Frédéric Varone of the Department for Political Science and International Relations at Geneva University and embedded in the ERC project « How politicians evaluate public opinion (POLEVPOP) » by Prof. Stefaan Walgrave from the University of Antwerpen (click here for more information).
Influence of Policy Evaluation in Comparative Perspective (Veni)
The central goal of this project is to answer the question: « Under what conditions and through what key mechanisms do policy evaluations lead to fundamental policy changes? » The project has two main scientific objectives, which will be achieved through an innovative multi-methodological approach: 1. to explain the necessary and sufficient conditions (and combinations thereof) under which evaluations lead to fundamental policy change. 2. to understand the mechanisms by which evaluations lead to fundamental policy change in specific evaluation situations. We compare and track the impact of all policy evaluations conducted or commissioned by governments in three countries and three policy areas over the period 2018-2022, focusing on the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Belgium.
This project is a collaboration with Prof. Valérie Pattyn of the Institute of Public Administration of Leiden University, and embedded in the Veni project « Policy evaluations evaluated. When do they prompt an overhaul of policies? » funded by the Dutch Research Council (NWO). We will conduct our survey in summer 2024 and expect to present the first findings in early 2025.