This Time Wasn't Different: Responsiveness and Responsibility in the Eurozone between 2007 and 2019

Abstract

This article investigates the balance between responsiveness and responsibility in France, Germany and Spain between 2017 and 2019. Based on the party-politics literature, the article argues that during crises responsibility may temporarily increase, but that subsequently governments need to base their actions on responsive policy criteria in order to maintain citizens' trust. Yet, given the dominance of austerity ideas during this decade and the introduction of a more stringent European fiscal framework, it is questionable whether responsiveness increased after the Eurozone crisis. Analysing original data from the yearly budget speeches of ministers of finance, the article finds that responsibility dominated budgetary policy-making in the early 2010s and that since 2014 responsiveness has increased, regardless of a country's financial situation. Furthermore, during the crisis responsibility tended to be higher under centre-right cabinets. The article portrays the early 2010s as an episode of 'politics in hard times' during which governments chose their policy response based on their ideas.

What Are Crises for? The Effects on Users’ Engagement in the 2022 Italian Election

“…Furthermore, references to crises also moderate the impact of communication strategies aimed at proposing "responsible" or "irresponsible" political actions (Karremans, 2021). While irresponsible pledges seem overall attractive for the Facebook audience (thus increasing the engagement), we noticed that making such irresponsible pledges is no longer a rewarding strategy in the context of a crisis.…”

“…Within this analytical framework, responsibility is identified as a character valence issue, particularly relevant in times of crisis (Karremans, 2021). It represents the expectation that responsible parties will take actions designed to yield benefits in the future and do their best to fulfill past commitments and agreements.…”

“…Responsiveness often refers to electoral promises, leading parties to make more irresponsible claims that mirror voters' viewpoints (Karremans & Lefkofridi, 2020). However, crises can temporarily promote responsibility, compelling governments and ruling parties to abide by rules and international agreements (Karremans, 2021).…”

How the impossible became possible: evolving frames and narratives on responsibility and responsiveness from the Eurocrisis to NextGenerationEU

“…Jonas Linde and Yvette Peters, for instance, argue that when governments act responsively toward voters, they generate a 'reservoir of goodwill' that allows them to subsequently implement (unpopular) 'responsible' decisions that are, in turn, more easily accepted by citizens' (Karremans & Lefkofridi, 2020, p. 276). On the other hand, Karremans shows that from 2014 onwards, the logic of responsiveness to social demands superseded that of responsibility in France, Germany and Spain alike (Karremans, 2021), thus casting doubt on the inevitability of a dilemma between the two even in 'hard times'.…”