The Data Set and the Party Systems of the 18 Countries

Abstract

This chapter focuses on describing the data, countries, party systems and the macro-level variables used for explaining the empirical patterns in the subsequent chapters. The chapter commences with a brief description of the comparative data set that is used -- the European Values Study 2008--2010. The 18 West European countries that are included in the study are then presented. The case is made for grouping the countries into four regions on the basis of party systems and welfare state regimes. The party choice variable used is then presented and political parties are grouped into party families. The final parts of the chapter present the macro-level variables, the measures for advanced industrialism and party system characteristics.