Regional identification or economic calculation: preferences of Brazilian voters about federalism

Theorisation about voters' preferences regarding the design of political unions, particularly referring to choices about centralisation or decentralisation, involves the drivers explaining such choices. Regional identification, rational economic calculations, partisan affiliation, trust and government approval figure out as alternative explanations for voters' attitudes.

This seminar will present evidence on the Brazilian case, based on two waves of surveys implemented before (2013) and after (2018) the political and economic crisis Brazil went through in the last 10 years.

Evidence will demonstrate that although the crisis deeply affected trust in the federal government it did not affect attitudes regarding centralisation. Discussions will also show that preferences are affected both by partisan affiliation and voter's income and region of living.

This event is in-person. Lunch will be provided.

Speaker

Professor Marta Arretche

Marta Arretche is a Professor of Political Science at the University of São Paulo (USP). Previously, Marta was Vice-Dean (Research) at USP, Director of Centro de Estudos da Metrópole, and editor of the Brazilian Political Science Review.

She holds a Social Sciences BA from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, and a Political Science MA and PhD from the State University of Campinas (Unicamp). Marta has been a post-doctoral researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a visiting fellow at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence.

She is a recipient of the Research Productivity Scholarship at the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq).

Marta's main research areas are institutional and comparative analysis. Her research themes include inequality studies, and comparative analysis of federalism and welfare states. She joined USP's Department of Political Science in 2003.