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Political economics and citizens’ engagement in Croatia: a differential analysis
Francisco Bastida* 
Article | Year: 2023 | Pages: 41 - 70 | Volume: 47 | Issue: 1 Received: June 1, 2022 | Accepted: December 15, 2022 | Published online: March 6, 2023
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FULL ARTICLE
FIGURES & DATA
REFERENCES
CROSSMARK POLICY
METRICS
LICENCING
PDF
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Variable
|
Description
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Mean
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Std. dev.
|
Min
|
Max
|
|
Dependent
|
lrscale
|
Placement on left right scale.
0 Left - 10 Right
|
5.13
|
2.19
|
0
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10
|
|
Income
|
gincdif
|
Government should reduce differences in income
levels.
1 Agree strongly - 5 Disagree strongly
|
2.17
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1.02
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1
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5
|
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hinctnta
|
Household's total net income, all sources.
1 1st decile - 10 10th decile
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5.52
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2.73
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1
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10
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lknemny
|
How likely not enough money for household
necessities next 12 months.
1 Not at all likely - 4 Very likely
|
2.00
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0.89
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1
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4
|
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imprich
|
Important to be rich, have money and expensive
things.
1 Very much like me - 6 Not like me at all
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4.13
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1.33
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1
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6
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Redistribution
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sbstrec
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Social benefits/services place too great strain on
economy.
1 Agree strongly - 5 Disagree strongly
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3.02
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1.05
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1
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5
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sbprvpv
|
Social benefits/services prevent widespread poverty.
1 Agree strongly - 5 Disagree strongly
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2.55
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0.98
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1
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5
|
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sbeqsoc
|
Social benefits/services lead to a more equal
society.
1 Agree strongly - 5 Disagree strongly
|
2.70
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0.99
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1
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5
|
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sbbsntx
|
Social benefits/services cost businesses too much in
taxes/charges.
1 Agree strongly - 5 Disagree strongly
|
2.97
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1.05
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1
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5
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sblazy
|
Social benefits/services cost make people lazy.
1 Agree strongly - 5 Disagree strongly
|
2.92
|
1.12
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1
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5
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Immigration
|
imsclbn
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When should immigrants obtain rights to social
benefits/services?
1 Immediately on arrival - 5 They should never get the same rights
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3.17
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1.01
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1
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5
|
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imbgeco
|
Immigration bad or good for country's economy.
0 Bad for the economy – 10 Good for the economy
|
5.10
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2.40
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0
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10
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Social welfare system
|
uentrjb
|
Most unemployed people do not really try to find a
job.
1 Agree strongly - 5 Disagree strongly
|
3.01
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1.09
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1
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5
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lbenent
|
Many with very low incomes get less benefit than
legally entitled to.
1 Agree strongly - 5 Disagree strongly
|
2.68
|
0.96
|
1
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5
|
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bennent
|
Many manage to obtain benefits/services not entitled
to.
1 Agree strongly - 5 Disagree strongly
|
2.47
|
0.98
|
1
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5
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Environment
|
impenv
|
Important to care for nature and environment.
1 Very much like me - 6 Not like me at all
|
2.15
|
1.03
|
1
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6
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Personal features
|
rlgblg_r
|
Belonging to particular religion or denomination.
1 Yes - 0 No (recoded)
|
0.58
|
0.49
|
0
|
1
|
|
gndr_r
|
Gender
0 Female - 1 Male (recoded)
|
0.50
|
0.50
|
0
|
1
|
|
agea
|
Age of respondent, calculated.
age in years
|
48.21
|
17.59
|
15
|
98
|
|
blgetmg_r
|
Belong to minority ethnic group in country
1 Yes - 0 No (recoded)
|
0.06
|
0.23
|
0
|
1
|
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lrscale
|
gincdif
|
hinctnta
|
lknemny
|
imprich
|
sbstrec
|
sbprvpv
|
sbeqsoc
|
sbbsntx
|
sblazy
|
imsclbn
|
imbgeco
|
uentrjb
|
lbenent
|
bennent
|
impenv
|
rlgblg_r
|
gndr_r
|
agea
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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gincdif
|
0.17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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hinctnta
|
0.06
|
0.18
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
lknemny
|
-0.04
|
-0.17
|
-0.31
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
imprich
|
-0.09
|
-0.05
|
-0.09
|
-0.07
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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sbstrec
|
-0.11
|
-0.08
|
-0.01
|
0.03
|
0.03
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
sbprvpv
|
0.04
|
0.00
|
-0.03
|
0.12
|
-0.05
|
0.06
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
sbeqsoc
|
0.04
|
0.04
|
-0.03
|
0.12
|
-0.03
|
-0.01
|
0.54
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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sbbsntx
|
-0.14
|
-0.07
|
0.00
|
0.00
|
0.04
|
0.46
|
0.05
|
0.02
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
sblazy
|
-0.12
|
-0.09
|
0.01
|
0.06
|
0.00
|
0.38
|
0.01
|
-0.05
|
0.34
|
|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
imsclbn
|
0.11
|
-0.01
|
-0.06
|
0.09
|
-0.08
|
-0.06
|
0.07
|
0.09
|
-0.08
|
-0.08
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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imbgeco
|
-0.06
|
0.08
|
0.16
|
-0.17
|
0.05
|
0.07
|
-0.09
|
-0.11
|
0.11
|
0.09
|
-0.31
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
uentrjb
|
-0.11
|
-0.02
|
0.06
|
-0.02
|
0.05
|
0.23
|
-0.06
|
-0.07
|
0.22
|
0.42
|
-0.12
|
0.15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
lbenent
|
0.04
|
0.21
|
0.15
|
-0.19
|
0.03
|
-0.04
|
-0.03
|
-0.01
|
0.01
|
-0.03
|
-0.04
|
0.09
|
0.09
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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bennent
|
-0.07
|
0.06
|
0.08
|
-0.06
|
0.04
|
0.17
|
-0.05
|
-0.07
|
0.19
|
0.28
|
-0.15
|
0.17
|
0.32
|
0.23
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
impenv
|
0.05
|
0.09
|
0.01
|
0.03
|
-0.05
|
-0.02
|
0.04
|
0.05
|
-0.01
|
-0.03
|
0.02
|
-0.04
|
-0.02
|
0.06
|
0.05
|
|
|
|
|
|
rlgblg_r
|
0.11
|
-0.07
|
-0.09
|
0.05
|
-0.01
|
-0.02
|
0.00
|
-0.03
|
-0.04
|
-0.02
|
0.00
|
-0.02
|
-0.04
|
-0.09
|
-0.07
|
-0.05
|
|
|
|
|
gndr_r
|
0.03
|
0.07
|
0.10
|
-0.07
|
-0.11
|
-0.03
|
-0.01
|
-0.03
|
-0.01
|
-0.02
|
0.01
|
0.05
|
0.01
|
0.03
|
0.00
|
0.05
|
-0.09
|
|
|
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agea
|
0.02
|
-0.08
|
-0.22
|
-0.04
|
0.25
|
-0.02
|
-0.02
|
0.00
|
-0.02
|
-0.02
|
0.05
|
-0.06
|
-0.02
|
-0.02
|
-0.04
|
-0.12
|
0.15
|
-0.04
|
|
|
blgetmg_r
|
-0.06
|
-0.03
|
-0.07
|
0.08
|
-0.07
|
0.04
|
0.01
|
0.00
|
0.01
|
0.03
|
-0.04
|
0.03
|
0.02
|
-0.03
|
0.01
|
0.01
|
0.06
|
0.01
|
-0.06
|
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Dept. variable:
lrscale
0 Left - 10 Right
|
Definition
|
Expect. sign
|
European countries
|
Croatia
|
|
|
OLS
|
Ordered probit
|
OLS
|
Ordered probit
|
Multilevel
|
|
|
Income
|
gincdif
|
Government should
reduce differences in income levels.
|
(+)
|
0.32***
|
0.15***
|
0.24**
|
0.11**
|
0.25***
|
|
|
32.4
|
32.0
|
2.1
|
2.2
|
3.1
|
|
|
hinctnta
|
Household's total net
income, all sources.
|
(+)
|
0.02***
|
0.01***
|
-0.02
|
-0.01
|
-0.03
|
|
|
7.0
|
8.1
|
-0.7
|
-0.9
|
-0.9
|
|
|
lknemny
|
How likely for there
not to be enough money for household necessities next 12 months.
|
(-)
|
-0.05***
|
-0.02***
|
-0.06
|
-0.03
|
-0.06
|
|
|
-4.8
|
-4.5
|
-0.5
|
-0.6
|
-0.3
|
|
|
imprich
|
Important to be rich,
have money and expensive things.
|
(-)
|
-0.09***
|
-0.06***
|
0.05
|
0.02
|
0.04
|
|
|
-12.1
|
-17.2
|
0.8
|
0.7
|
0.5
|
|
|
Redistribution
|
sbstrec
|
Social
benefits/services place too great strain on economy.
|
(-)
|
-0.14***
|
-0.04***
|
0.06
|
0.03
|
0.06
|
|
|
-12.9
|
-8.8
|
0.5
|
0.5
|
1.1
|
|
|
sbprvpv
|
Social
benefits/services prevent widespread poverty.
|
(+)
|
0.02**
|
0.02***
|
-0.31**
|
-0.14***
|
-0.25**
|
|
|
2.4
|
5.1
|
-2.5
|
-2.7
|
-2.2
|
|
|
sbeqsoc
|
Social
benefits/services lead to a more equal society.
|
(+)
|
0.02*
|
0.00
|
0.20
|
0.09
|
0.15
|
|
|
1.8
|
0.8
|
1.5
|
1.5
|
1.1
|
|
|
sbbsntx
|
Social
benefits/services cost businesses too much in taxes/charges.
|
(-)
|
-0.14***
|
-0.07***
|
-0.32***
|
-0.14***
|
-0.32***
|
|
|
-13.2
|
-15.0
|
-2.6
|
-2.6
|
-6.7
|
|
|
sblazy
|
Social
benefits/services cost make people lazy.
|
(-)
|
-0.10***
|
-0.03***
|
-0.12
|
-0.05
|
-0.14**
|
|
|
-9.4
|
-7.0
|
-1.0
|
-0.9
|
-2.0
|
|
|
Immigration
|
imsclbn
|
When should immigrants
obtain rights to social benefits/services?
|
(+)
|
0.13***
|
0.07***
|
0.18*
|
*0.08
|
0.13**
|
|
|
13.2
|
15.9
|
1.7
|
1.7
|
2.1
|
|
|
imbgeco
|
Immigration bad
or good for country's economy.
|
(-)
|
-0.02***
|
-0.01***
|
-0.11**
|
-0.05**
|
-0.10**
|
|
|
-4.2
|
-5.0
|
-2.4
|
-2.4
|
-2.4
|
|
|
Social welfare system
|
uentrjb
|
Most unemployed people
do not really try to find a job.
|
(-)
|
-0.089***
|
-0.04***
|
-0.00
|
0.00
|
0.00
|
|
|
-8.6
|
-9.5
|
0.0
|
0.1
|
0.0
|
|
|
lbenent
|
Many with very low
incomes get less benefit than their legal entitlement.
|
(+)
|
0.071***
|
0.02***
|
0.03
|
0.02
|
0.02
|
|
|
6.6
|
4.4
|
0.3
|
0.3
|
0.7
|
|
|
bennent
|
Many manage to
obtain benefits/services they are not entitled to.
|
(-)
|
-0.05***
|
-0.01**
|
0.03
|
0.00
|
0.07
|
|
|
-4.5
|
-2.0
|
0.2
|
0.1
|
0.5
|
|
|
Environment
|
impenv
|
Important to
care for nature and environment.
|
(+)
|
0.08***
|
0.03***
|
-0.04
|
-0.01
|
-0.06
|
|
|
8.7
|
8.4
|
-0.5
|
-0.3
|
-1.1
|
|
|
Personal features
|
rlgblg_r
|
Belonging to
particular religion or denomination.
|
(+)
|
0.50***
|
0.26***
|
1.08***
|
0.50***
|
1.06*
|
|
|
25.2
|
28.2
|
4.3
|
4.4
|
1.8
|
|
|
gndr_r
|
Gender
|
¿?
|
0.10***
|
0.04***
|
0.11
|
0.05
|
0.10
|
|
|
5.6
|
4.4
|
0.5
|
0.6
|
0.4
|
|
|
agea
|
Age of respondent,
calculated.
|
(-)
|
0.00***
|
0.00***
|
0.00
|
0.00
|
0.00
|
|
|
8.5
|
8.8
|
0.2
|
0.1
|
0.0
|
|
|
blgetmg_r
|
Belong to minority
ethnic group in country
|
(-)
|
-0.75***
|
-0.31***
|
-0.96*
|
-0.47*
|
-1.05
|
|
|
-17.0
|
-14.7
|
-1.7
|
-1.8
|
-1.5
|
|
|
N
|
50,713
|
|
552
|
|
|
|
R-squared
|
0.13
|
|
0.12
|
|
|
|
Maximum VIF
|
1.55
|
|
|
|
|
|
Log
pseudolikelihood
|
|
|
|
|
-1,228.72
|
 Sig.:*10%,**5%,***1%. Total number of observations 318,048. Sample is ESS round 4 (2008), 5 (2010) and 9 (2020). All countries vs. Croatia. Variables description: − cntry_HR_r: Country is Croatia 1, otherwise 0. − nwsppol: Newspaper reading, politics/current affairs on average weekday: (0) No time at all, (1) Less than 0,5 hour, (2) 0,5 hour to 1 hour, (3) More than 1 hour, up to 1,5 hours, (4) More than 1,5 hours, up to 2 hours, (5) More than 2 hours, up to 2,5 hours, (6) More than 2,5 hours, up to 3 hours, (7) More than 3 hours. − nwspol: On a typical day, about how much time (in minutes) do you spend watching, reading or listening to news about politics and current affairs? − tvpol: On an average weekday, how much of your time watching television is spent watching news or programmes about politics and current affairs? (0) No time at all, (1) Less than 0,5 hour, (2) 0,5 hour to 1 hour, (3) More than 1 hour, up to 1,5 hours, (4) More than 1,5 hours, up to 2 hours, (5) More than 2 hours, up to 2,5 hours, (6) More than 2,5 hours, up to 3 hours, (7) More than 3 hours.
Sig.:*10%,**5%,***1%. Total number of observations 688. Sample is ESS round 4 (2008), Croatia subsample. Variables description: − uemplwk_error_optimist: Real unemployment of the country – interviewee’s guess of their country’s unemployment. This latter variable coded as uemplwk on ESS round 4 and ESS round 8: “Of every 100 people of working age in [country] how many would you say are unemployed and looking for work? If you are not sure please give your best guess.” − elect2007_voted_the_ruling_party: Interviewee voted for party currently ruling Croatia 1, otherwise 0.
Top figure reports variable rile: Volkens et al. (2021) publish the Manifesto dataset, with a variable called rile, which measures the left (minimum value) vs. right (maximum value). Bottom figure reports variable lrscale: European Social Survey.
Sig.:*10%,**5%,***1%. Total number of observations 31. Variable voter_turnout_parliam: Voter turnout in last parliamentary election.
Sig.:*10%,**5%,***1%. Total number of observations 31.
Sig.:*10%,**5%,***1%. Total number of observations 117. Variable cobi_2019: 2019 Open budget index, as computed by the Open Budget Partnership. Higher value means more budget transparency.
Sig.:*10%,**5%,***1%. Total number of observations 411,111. ESS variable trstprl: Trust in country’s parliament. “Please tell me on a score of 0-10 how much you personally trust each of the institutions I read out. 0 means you do not trust an institution at all, and 10 means you have complete trust. [Country]’s parliament?”
Sig.:*10%,**5%,***1%. Total number of observations 413,939. ESS variable trstplt: Trust in politicians. “Please tell me on a score of 0-10 how much you personally trust each of the institutions I read out. 0 means you do not trust an institution at all, and 10 means you have complete trust. Politicians?”
Table 1Descriptive statistics DISPLAY Table
Table 2Pearson correlation matrix DISPLAY Table
Table 3Regression, base model DISPLAY Table
Figure 1Searching for news about politics in Croatia DISPLAY Figure
Figure 2Optimism in citizens who voted for the ruling party in Croatia DISPLAY Figure
Figure 3Political polarization trend in Croatia DISPLAY Figure
Figure 4Voter turnout (%), average of previous parliamentary election (voter_turnout_parliam) DISPLAY Figure
Figure 5Corruption perception index 2021, Transparency International DISPLAY Figure
Figure 6Budget transparency, Open Budget Partnership DISPLAY Figure
Figure 7Trust in country’s parliament DISPLAY Figure
Figure 8Trust in politicians DISPLAY Figure
* The author would like to thank two anonymous referees for their useful comments and suggestions. The author would like to thank Prince Sultan University for their support.
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March, 2023
I/2023
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