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Mikael Persson

@professormpersson.bsky.social
128 followers 163 following 46 posts

Professor, Political Science, University of Gothenburg

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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Med Stefan Dahlberg i Forskning och framsteg fof.se/artikel/sa-v...
fof.se
Så vet du om du kan lita på opinionsmätningen | Forskning & Framsteg
Opinionsmätningar spelar en stor roll i det offentliga samtalet. När ett parti plötsligt ser ut att stiga, tappa eller närma sig spärren får det snabbt …
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 17/04/2026
I kölvattnet av Andrej Kokkonens och min DN-debatt om tolkningen av V-dems demokratimätningar framkommer ytterligare kritik i Kvartal: kvartal.se/henrikhojer/...
kvartal.se
Intern kritik mot V-Dem: ”Överdrivet och onyanserat” – Kvartal
Toppforskare varnar för alarmism.
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The Loop @ecprtheloop.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
🪧 Politically active people are better represented than inactive citizens, write @jesperlindqvist.bsky.social, @jenny-oser.bsky.social, @rdassonneville.bsky.social, @professormpersson.bsky.social & A Sundell. 📊 But do they affect policy outcomes any better than inactive people? 👉️ bit.ly/41lkPep
bit.ly
Politically active people are better represented than inactive ones
Politically active people — including protesters and those engaging outside elections — are better represented than inactive citizens, write Jesper Lindqvist, Jennifer Oser, Ruth Dassonneville, Mikael...
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 31/03/2026
Skriver med @andrejkokkonen.bsky.social på DN Kulturdebatt: www.dn.se/kultur/profe...
dn.se
Kulturdebatt. Professorer i statsvetenskap: Missvisande larm om demokratin riskerar att skapa en kris som inte finns
Forskare ifrågasätter larm om svensk demokrati och betonar stabilitet.
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
The ambitious people of the Gothenburg Research Group on Elections, Public Opinion, and Political Behavior (GEPOP) 2026!
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 16/02/2026
Glad to share this entry on "Responsiveness" that Anders Sundell and I wrote for the @ipsa.org Companion to Political Science. Thanks to Daniel Stockemer, Stephen Sawyer and @audreygagnon.bsky.social for editing. link.springer.com/rwe/10.1007/...
link.springer.com
Responsiveness
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Ruth Dassonneville @rdassonneville.bsky.social · 09/02/2026
‼️ New paper out in @polbehavior.bsky.social ! We ask whether the politically active (in terms of electoral or other forms of participation) are better represented? See Jesper's detailed 🧵 below for more info on the paper! 👇
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
Fin Amelin!
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Jesper Lindqvist @jesperlindqvist.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
🧵I am happy to announce a new article in Political Behavior @polbehavior.bsky.social, “Are the Politically Active Better Represented?”, co-authored with @jenny-oser.bsky.social, @rdassonneville.bsky.social, @professormpersson.bsky.social, and Anders Sundell. link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com
Are the Politically Active Better Represented? - Political Behavior
Political participation is considered an important path for people to influence politics. However, whether those who participate actually see more of their preferred policies implemented remains an op...
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Staffan Kumlin @staffankumlin.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
Why do some want government spending without supporting the necessary taxation? Such a "something for nothing" mindset is often seen as an information or even sophistication problem. But we find it is equally due to rational interests among the economically vulnerable.
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Clara Weißenfels @clarawe.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
1/ Does growing up poor always lead to political apathy? Very happy to share my first paper published (open access) in @electoralstudies.bsky.social, where I show that parents' influence mitigates the poverty gap in participation, while economic mobility does not. 🔗 shorturl.at/p5Bac
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
Thanks for sharing our paper!
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Matt Grossmann @mattgrossmann.bsky.social · 26/10/2025
Across countries, unequal congruence between high- & low-income voters & policy is driven by status quo bias, rather than unequal abilities to achieve policy change. high-income advantage stems largely from their satisfaction with preserving the status quo onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
<em>Policy Studies Journal</em> | PSO Public Policy Journal | Wiley Online Library
Research on unequal responsiveness has shown that policies tend to align more closely with the preferences of high-income citizens than low-income citizens. Using comparative data on opinions and pol...
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
New in Policy Studies Journal: Blocking the Poor: Status Quo Bias in Policy Congruence (with Anders Sundell) (1) onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
Power endures not through dramatic shifts, but through the steady accumulation of small advantages that lock the status quo in place. (6)
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
Drawing on data from 43 countries and more than 130 policy issues, we show that high-income citizens’ advantage stems largely from their satisfaction with preserving the status quo. (5)
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
It is not that high-income citizens are better at achieving policy change, but that they are better at blocking reforms favored by lower-income citizens. (4)
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
Using comparative data on opinions and policies, we suggest that this inequality primarily results from status quo bias; asymmetric blocking power drives unequal congruence. (3)
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
Research on unequal responsiveness shows that policies tend to align more closely with the preferences of high-income citizens than low-income citizens. (2)
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
New in Policy Studies Journal: Blocking the Poor: Status Quo Bias in Policy Congruence (with Anders Sundell) (1) onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
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American Political Science Review @apsrjournal.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
From our latest issue: Politicians’ Theories of Voting Behavior by Jack Lucas et al. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
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West European Politics @wepsocial.bsky.social · 06/10/2025
What matters more to politicians: the quantity or quality of public opinion signals? Find out in the new article by @bart-maes.bsky.social Stefaan Walgrave Emmi Verleyen Frédéric Varone @annerasmussen.bsky.social & @professormpersson.bsky.social doi.org/10.1080/0140...
Abstract of the article "What matters more to politicians: the quantity or quality of public opinion signals?" by Bart Maes, Stefaan Walgrave, Emmi Verleyen, Frédéric Varone, Anne Rasmussen and Mikael Persson. Published online first in West European Politics.Figure 1, displaying average (reversed) importance of each public opinion criterion aggregated across countries.Figure 3, displaying the frequency distribution of the quantity vs. quality public opinion criteria scale.Figure 4, displaying predicted values of politicians' ranking of the criteria.
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Ruth Dassonneville @rdassonneville.bsky.social · 03/10/2025
Had a *fantastic* time at the Nordic Political Behavior Workshop! Great papers, engaging discussions, and super constructive feedback. Thanks so much for organizing @finseraas.bsky.social @lchristensen.bsky.social @professormpersson.bsky.social & Peter Dinesen!
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 03/10/2025
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
tandfonline.com
What matters more to politicians: the quantity or quality of public opinion signals?
Research has found evidence of policy responsiveness to public opinion, but also that responsiveness is highly variable. This selectivity is, however, only partially understood. This study explores...
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 03/10/2025
The 5th Nordic Political Behavior Workshop in Trondheim! @lchristensen.bsky.social @rdassonneville.bsky.social @finseraas.bsky.social et al!
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 29/09/2025
Stark duo!
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European Journal of Political Research @ejprjournal.bsky.social · 24/09/2025
📘 64.4 @jesperlindqvist.bsky.social, @professormpersson.bsky.social, W.Schakel & A.Sundell look at 🗳️ voters’ policy preferences often misalign with what they get in practice with the study showing how this “electoral connection” gap contributes to unequal outcomes #OA 🔗
ejpr.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Poor choices? Examining the electoral connection behind unequal policy representation
JESPER LINDQVIST, MIKAEL PERSSON, WOUTER SCHAKEL, ANDERS SUNDELL
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West European Politics @wepsocial.bsky.social · 10/09/2025
🌟Online first: "Ideological bias in policy implementation: public opinion and policy outcomes in 43 democracies" Research Note by @professormpersson.bsky.social & Anders Sundell doi.org/10.1080/0140...
Abstract of the research note "Ideological bias in policy implementation: public opinion and policy outcomes in 43 democracies" by Mikael Persson and Anders Sundell. Published online first in West European Politics.Figure 2, displaying triangles of representation, showing congruence (y-axis) and under-/over-provision of policy (x-axis).Figure 3, displaying public support for and implementation of leftist and rightist proposals.Figure 4, displaying policy provision and congruence. Leftist and TAN proposals are the most under-provided relative to public support.
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 03/09/2025
New paper with Anders Sundell published in West European Politics: Ideological bias in policy implementation: public opinion and policy outcomes in 43 democracies www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
tandfonline.com
Ideological bias in policy implementation: public opinion and policy outcomes in 43 democracies
Previous research has documented a conservative bias in politicians’ perceptions of public opinion. Do similar biases also exist in policy implementation, relative to public opinion? In this articl...
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
📢 Call for proposals: Submit survey module ideas for inclusion in the Swedish National Election Study 2026. Deadline: Oct 31, 2025 👉 www.gu.se/en/swedish-n...
gu.se
Swedish National Election Study 2026 – Call for Proposals
The next large national election study in Sweden will be conducted in conjunction with the general election in September 2026. We invite the research community to submit proposals for survey instrumen...
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
10/ Working paper here: swopec.hhs.se/ifauwp/abs/i... Comments are welcome!
swopec.hhs.se
S-WoPEc: Processing macroeconomic signals: Voter responses to growth, unemployment, inflation and stock markets
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
9/ Signals are interpreted through a lens of class exposure. Each signal carries has its specific effect. Economic reasoning is structured, but unequally distributed.
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
8/ Not all voters process signals the same way: – High-knowledge voters make more accurate and nuanced inferences – High-income voters place more weight on stock markets – Labor market position has surprisingly little impact
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
7/ – Inflation strongly affects personal/national evaluations and vote choice – Unemployment matters for all outcomes, but less consistently – GDP influences national more than personal assessments – Stocks influences personal evaluations, but matters less for voting
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
6/ Voters distinguish who benefits and who suffers from different signals: – Unemployment is seen as hurting the working class – Inflation is seen as hitting both the working and middle class – Stock markets are seen as primarily benefiting the rich – GDP growth broadly positive.
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
5/ Voters have intuitive models of how the economy works. Many apply a “good-begets-good” heuristic: When one signal improves, others are assumed to follow. But this isn’t always consistent with macroeconomic logic. High-knowledge = more likely to recognize tradeoffs.
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
4/ Voters differentiate how macro signals affect: – Their personal economy – The national economy – Their vote intentions All four signals matter — not just GDP or unemployment — but they matter in different ways.
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
3/ 📊 We fielded survey experiments in 🇸🇪 🇩🇪 🇺🇸 (N ≈ 9,000), randomly varying information about: – GDP growth – Inflation – Unemployment – Stock markets
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
2/ Most economic voting research assumes voters respond to “the economy” as a unified construct. But which macro signals shape perceptions of the economy? We show that voters distinguish between macroeconomic signals — and reason about them in distinct ways.
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
1/ New working paper out (w/ Love Christensen & Jana Schwenk @janaschwenk.bsky.social @lchristensen.bsky.social): "Processing Macroeconomic Signals: Voter Responses to Growth, Unemployment, Inflation and Stock Markets" 🧵
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Hilma Lindskog @hilmal.bsky.social · 19/06/2025
🧵 How does education shape political behavior? @professormpersson.bsky.social and I contribute with two chapters to the new Research Handbook on Education and Democracy👇
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IFAU @ifau.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
När väljare tar ställning till hur regeringar hanterar ekonomin spelar inflationen en stor roll, men även arbetslöshet, tillväxt och börsutveckling påverkar bedömningen. Det visar en ny studie från IFAU, genomförd av forskare vid Göteborgs universitet. www.ifau.se/Press/Meddel...
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IFAU @ifau.bsky.social · 17/06/2025
Processing macroeconomic signals: Voter responses to growth, unemployment, inflation and stock markets. New Working paper by Love Christensen, Mikael Persson and Jana Schwenk. www.ifau.se/en/Press/Abs...
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
Preprint (open): gupea.ub.gu.se/bitstream/ha... Published version: Wallin, Olson & Persson (2025), Research Handbook on Education and Democracy doi.org/10.4337/9781...
gupea.ub.gu.se
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
-Deliberative and participatory approaches often show positive effects—especially for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. -Several studies point to a compensatory effect of open classroom climates. -Not all students benefit equally. Implementation matters.
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
Outcomes examined include: – political knowledge – efficacy and participation – democratic values – civic responsibility Ages range from preschool to upper secondary. Some effects are long-term (e.g. voting), others more immediate.
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
The reviewed studies cover: – classroom discussions and deliberation – simulations and role-play – student decision-making – civic texts and news media – open classroom climates – teacher engagement – collaboration with civil society
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Mikael Persson @professormpersson.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
New in the Research Handbook on Education and Democracy: Which teaching practices actually promote students’ democracy learning? Together with Pontus Wallin and Maria Olson, I screened 7,771 studies and reviewed 29 in a systematic review. Here’s what we found. 🧵
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Henning Finseraas @finseraas.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
*CALL FOR PAPERS* We are happy to invite proposals to the 5th Nordic Political Behavior Workshop at NTNU Trondheim, Norway, October 2-3. See mikaelpersson.org/workshop for more information and how to submit your proposal (deadline May 10). Please distribute to people that might be interested
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Jesper Lindqvist @jesperlindqvist.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
Great to see this finally out! It's an interesting paper because we examine whether unequal representation is caused by how low- and high-income people vote (for example ideological voting). Our findings goes against this idea, meaning that unequal representation must be caused by something else!
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