EPRC Seminar: Can Regional Transfers Buy Public Support? Evidence from EU Structural Policy

On 19 November, EPRC hosted a seminar by Steffen Osterloh from the ZEW in Mannheim, Germany, as part of the EPRC European Policy Seminar Series. Steffen Osterloh looked at the impact that regional transfers have on the public opinion towards the benefactor. This hypothesis is tested for EU Structural Funds by combining detailed data on regional transfers with public opinion surveys. A positive impact of transfers on public support for the EU can be confirmed. Steffen considered the role of awareness of being a recipient of funds in this process. In particular, it can be noticed that the impact of the amount of transfers on the individual's awareness is heterogeneous and particularly depends on education. Finally, the presentation showed that the type of information source which arouses the citizen's awareness of the transfers affects the impact on his opinion. The presentation slides of the seminar are available http://www.eprc.strath.ac.uk/news/Steffen Osterloh_19 Nov.pdf .