Developing the Region

Online versus offline: Which networks track protests?

Does social media or offline social cohesion overcome collective action problems more effectively when both types of networks are prevalent? We investigate non-violent protests against a place-based economic reform in Austria—a country...

Tariff troubles: repercussions of protectionist policies on US agriculture and the trade deficit

The United States has increased protectionist measures since 2018 and has remained notably passive while other nations have pursued trade agreements. This change, coupled with the potential for future increased...

Global land-use implications of preference shifts towards regional feed and sustainable diets in Germany and the European Union

In Germany and other EU countries, preferences for regional and GMO-free feed can increasingly be observed. Many industries like to brand their dairy, eggs and meat products as produced with...

A reform of value-added taxes on foods can have health, environmental and economic benefits in Europe

Fiscal policies can provide important incentives for encouraging the dietary changes needed to achieve global policy targets. Across Europe, the foods relevant to health and the environment often incur reduced...

Effects of the ‘new’ US trade policy on international agricultural trade 2025

The relationship between the youth-led Fridays for Future climate movement and voting, politician and media behaviour in Germany

We study the relationship between the Fridays for Future climate protest movement in Germany and citizen political behaviour. In 2019, crowds of young protesters, mostly under voting age, demanded immediate...

Elite persistence and policy persistence: Re-installed mayors from Weimar Germany

Why do public policies change little over time in individual places, sometimes for centuries? We investigate different mechanisms for policy persistence. Several city mayors serving in democratic Weimar Germany were expelled by...

Party politics in Austria: From proportion to populism?

Party politics in Austria has two distinctive features: institutionalized power sharing between the two main parties, known as Proporz, and a longstanding tradition of far-right populism. I examine whether these...

Activated history: The case of the Turkish sieges of Vienna

We study whether long-gone but activated history can shape social attitudes and behavior even after centuries. We exploit the case of the sieges of Vienna in 1529 and 1683, when Turkish troops...