Does fiscal pressure constrain policy responsiveness? Evidence from Germany

Political responsiveness is highly unequal along class lines, which has triggered a lively debate about potential causes of this political inequality. What remained largely unexplored in are the structural economic conditions under policymakers operate. In contribution, we hypothesize that budgetary pressures affect both level and equality responsiveness. Using dataset containing public opinion data on around 450 fiscal policy proposals Germany between 1980 2016, investigate whether more responsive issues with consequences low pressure than high pressure. We find indeed varies systematically degree less when high. This holds for left-wing right-wing governments. contrast, do not strong effects inequality: equal fiscally permissive times. However, since different types adopted times stress, implications