Economic Inequality and Far Right Voting

• In Event: The Politics of Inequality in Polarized Contexts

Abstract

Economic inequality and the far right have been on the rise in recent years. Previous research indicates that far right support is more prevalent among the economically ‘left behind.’ However, few studies have examined the effects of inequality on far-right support, with mixed results. This paper investigates this relationship on a sample of 267 elections, across 30 advanced democracies, from 1990 to 2021. It finds at both the individual and aggregate levels, that economic inequality is significantly associated with voting for the far right. Results also show that the positive effect is significantly magnified for the non-employed, and when unemployment is higher. The findings contribute to the burgeoning literature into the political consequences of economic inequality, as well as the literature focusing on economic factors in explaining the rise of the far right.

Author

• Matthew Polacko, University of Toronto