Brown to Green: The Political Economy of Risks, Voting, and Compensation Policies (B2G)

The project examines the political economy of the green transition, focusing on its distributional implications, public support for green policies, and compensation policies that can enable decarbonization. By addressing socio-economic and political challenges, it aims to provide insights into how this transition affects labour markets, voting behaviour, and policy design across Europe.

Organised into three work packages, the team will first estimate the distribution of “green” and “brown” jobs across EU countries, examining sectoral and regional variations. Second, the project investigates green voting across Europe, exploring the relationship between occupational profiles and voting behaviour, as well as voters’ perceptions and the effectiveness of party messages on climate policies. The final work package will survey public opinion on land use changes to identify policies that can mitigate local resistance to decarbonization.

The project aims to produce at least four peer-reviewed articles and inform policymakers, enhancing the understanding of the green transition’s impact on employment, economic prospects, and political dynamics. Additionally, it will improve collaboration between CIVICA partners and support data collection and public opinion surveys for future EU funding proposals.