Thread by @NoamGidron

We often define the ideological space in terms of the economic and cultural dimensions; how does this resonate with ordinary citizens? This is the question @ttichelbaecker and I explore in a new Element, analyzing answers to open-ended survey questions 🧵
cup.org/4gEYCOj

Analyzing data from 10 countries, we find significant cross-national variations in how ordinary people think about the economic and cultural dimensions---specifically when it comes to "new politics" issues of immigration and green policies.

People's interpretation of the ideological space varies not only across but also within countries. When considering demographic variables, the age divide strongly conditions respondents’ understanding of the cultural dimension.

And while previous work showed that left-wing and right-wing supporters vary in their positions on the economic and cultural dimensions, we show that voters across the ideological divide differ also in the policies they associate with each of these dimensions.

We also find that the boundaries between the economic and cultural dimensions are porous in people’s minds. Specifically, right-wing supporters often blame the government for providing preferential economic treatment to culturally defined groups.

We rely on text analysis of responses to open-ended questions, following a growing literature that uses this approach. We elaborate on the various steps in the empirical analysis, so that others can follow and improve on what we've done.

Our Element is available open access by the end of January -- email us if you have problems getting a copy.
cup.org/4gEYCOj