The Limits of Public Support for Fiscal Consolidation: Survey Evidence From Great Britain

Björn Bremer, Charlotte Cavaillé, Lisanne De Blok, Catherine E. De Vries, Department of Political Science, Central European University, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Toulouse School of Economics, Université Toulouse Capitole, Utrecht University, School of Governance , The Netherlands, School of Politics, and Global Affairs, IE University

Comparative Political Studies

Published online on April 16, 2026

Abstract

Comparative Political Studies, Ahead of Print.
In many European democracies, fiscal consolidation is back on the agenda. A common claim is that electoral constraints—stemming from public resistance to tax increases and spending cuts—limit policymakers’ ability to pursue deficit reduction. However, ...