European Identity and Support for European Integration: A Matter of Perceived Economic Benefits?

Abstract

Summary Economic utilitarian theory assumes a relationship between economic benefits, support for European integration and European identity. While the relationship between economic benefits and support for European integration has already been empirically investigated, this is not the case for European identity. Therefore, we test the association between economic indicators and European identity, while performing the same analysis for support for European integration. Eight different objective and perceived economic parameters are tested, covering the whole spectrum of sociotropic, egocentric, objective and perceived benefits. The multilevel analyses on Eurobarometer data show that economic considerations are positively associated with support and European identity. This is especially the case for perceived benefits, indicating that earlier findings about perception of benefits in the study of support for European integration are valid for European identity as well.

Does more knowledge about the European Union lead to a stronger European identity? A comparative analysis among adolescents in 21 European member states

“…In this view, citizens will identify more easily with the EU if the rational cost-benefit analysis they make results in a positive outcome. More precisely, it has been shown that for European identity -in contrast to support for European integration -only perceived economic benefits and objective measures measured on the individual level are important for the explanation of this form of identity (Verhaegen, Hooghe, and Quintelier 2014). This can be understood by the observation that identity also has an emotional element next to a cognitive element, rendering it more personal than the attitudinal variable of support for European integration.…”

“…Following the suggestions made in previous studies about economic utilitarianism in the EU, we include individual-level variables measuring perceived and objective economic (Verhaegen, Hooghe, and Quintelier 2014). To measure perceived economic benefits of European integration, the ICCS 2009 data-set includes three statements about the economic merits of financial integration.…”

“…The model of economic utilitarianism departs from self-interest. Actors are assumed to base their judgment and identification with the EU community on a rational cost-benefit calculation about the economic benefits or costs of European membership (Cinnirella 1997;Fligstein, Polyakova, and Sandholtz 2012;Kritzinger 2005;Verhaegen, Hooghe, and Quintelier 2014). In this view, citizens will identify more easily with the EU if the rational cost-benefit analysis they make results in a positive outcome.…”

The EU Budget's Impact on Public Opinion

“…The idea that individual opinion on the EU is most affected by utilitarian appraisals has been both theoretically enduring and empirically successful. Various economic ramifications of EU integration have been shown in multiple analyses to be highly correlated with public opinion on the EU (Eichenberg & Dalton, 1993;Anderson and Reichert, 1996;Gabel, 1998;Verhaegen, Hooghe, and Quintelier, 2014). Indeed, Gabel (1998) discovered that economic considerations were more impactful than any other posited variables and that "the utilitarian theory provides a robust explanation for variation in support for integration" (p. 350-351).…”

Who Is Anti-American in the European Union?

“…We follow Verhaegen et al (2014) and others, and assume those who favor greater European integration feel that they will benefit from it-individually or altruistically, or both. Their views are uninfluenced by the appropriate service delivery level (Oates, 1999), because this is a given.…”