New research challenges claims that austerity policies were surprisingly popular during the Great Recession. This article analyzes monthly public support data from fifteen European countries, treating austerity packages as intervention variables within established time-series analysis methods.

Data & Methods: ‽ Pooling opinion polls over 15 years in Europe to track changes around specific austerity interventions

Key Findings: ※ Analysis reveals average negative impacts on incumbent parties despite previous claims of popularity; Effects are cumulative and significant under certain conditions

Context Matters: ‼️ The magnitude varies based on key factors including rising unemployment, external creditor involvement (like the EU or IMF), and high protest activity levels

Implications: ➤ This nuanced perspective offers a more realistic understanding of austerity politics during economic crises.