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Employer preferences and political alignments during the Eurocrisis: Evidence from the Portuguese case

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 July 2019

Marco Lisi Open the ORCID record for Marco Lisi [Opens in a new window]  and
João Loureiro
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Abstract

This paper strives to shed light on the interaction between business groups and the main governing parties after the onset of the economic crisis through a “thick narrative” approach. By focusing on the Portuguese case, the study aims to examine the preferences of the employer confederations during the distinct phases of the economic crisis and to analyze the political alignments established with different party governments. This contribution confirms the fragmentation of business interests on the one hand and tensions between the right-wing government and the main employer confederations on the other. While a pragmatic approach to party politics seems to be the predominant trend, historical and institutional legacies are still important factors when considering the actions and inner tensions of these organizations.

Keywords

business associationsEurozone crisisinterest groupspolitical partiesparty-group relationsPortugal
Type
Research Article
Information
Business and Politics , Volume 21 , Issue 3 , September 2019 , pp. 385 - 414
Copyright
Copyright © V.K. Aggarwal 2019 and published under exclusive license to Cambridge University Press 

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Footnotes

†

This study was supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), by a grant within the framework of the project “From Representation to Legitimacy: Political Parties and Interest Groups in Southern Europe” (PTDC/IVC-CPO/1864/2014).

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