Replication Data for: Painful Reforms, Punished Incumbents: The Politics of Economic Adjustment (doi:10.7910/DVN/V7RQQ4)

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Part 1: Document Description
Part 2: Study Description
Part 3: Data Files Description
Part 4: Variable Description
Part 5: Other Study-Related Materials
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Document Description

Citation

Title:

Replication Data for: Painful Reforms, Punished Incumbents: The Politics of Economic Adjustment

Identification Number:

doi:10.7910/DVN/V7RQQ4

Distributor:

Harvard Dataverse

Date of Distribution:

2026-03-31

Version:

1

Bibliographic Citation:

Reinsberg, Bernhard; Abouharb, Mohammed, 2026, "Replication Data for: Painful Reforms, Punished Incumbents: The Politics of Economic Adjustment", https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/V7RQQ4, Harvard Dataverse, V1, UNF:6:qTjQA8asj90/Hb9ygT6XCg== [fileUNF]

Study Description

Citation

Title:

Replication Data for: Painful Reforms, Punished Incumbents: The Politics of Economic Adjustment

Identification Number:

doi:10.7910/DVN/V7RQQ4

Authoring Entity:

Reinsberg, Bernhard

Abouharb, Mohammed (University College London)

Distributor:

Harvard Dataverse

Access Authority:

Reinsberg, Bernhard

Depositor:

Reinsberg, Bernhard

Date of Deposit:

2026-03-30

Holdings Information:

https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/V7RQQ4

Study Scope

Keywords:

Social Sciences, International Monetary Fund, policy reform, blame-shifting, survey experiment, World Values Surveys

Abstract:

We investigate the political fallout from economic reform programs and whether incumbent governments can soften the impact using social protection or scapegoating strategies. We test our arguments through a survey experiment in Pakistan and an analysis of World Values Surveys. The Pakistani experiment confirms that emphasizing the negative consequences of reform lowers incumbent support, while attempts to mitigate this backlash are ineffective. The cross-country data show that populations enduring harsher reform programs report lower satisfaction with national leaders. These findings inform economic voting theories in developing countries and policies regarding political backlash from IMF-backed adjustments.

Notes:

The survey data are available here: https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/YAM0WX

Methodology and Processing

Sources Statement

Data Access

Notes:

<a href="http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0">CC0 1.0</a>

Other Study Description Materials

Related Publications

Citation

Title:

Reinsberg, B., & Abouharb, M. R. (2026). Painful Reforms, Punished Incumbents: The Politics of Economic Adjustment. Journal of Economic Policy Reform.

Identification Number:

10.1080/17487870.2026.2654637

Bibliographic Citation:

Reinsberg, B., & Abouharb, M. R. (2026). Painful Reforms, Punished Incumbents: The Politics of Economic Adjustment. Journal of Economic Policy Reform.

File Description--f13638579

File: GOATRA_WVS_JEPR.tab

  • Number of cases: 422150

  • No. of variables per record: 28

  • Type of File: text/tab-separated-values

Notes:

UNF:6:qTjQA8asj90/Hb9ygT6XCg==

Observational data

Variable Description

List of Variables:
  • iso3 - ISO-3 country code
  • year - Survey year
  • S017 - Weight
  • E125 - Satisfaction with the people in national office
  • E128 - Country is run by big interest vs. for all people’s benefit
  • E069_11 - Confidence: The Government
  • IMFnn - IMF program active at any point in the year
  • PAsTOT - Prior actions
  • women - Woman
  • age - Age
  • married - Married
  • children - Number of children
  • education - Education level
  • live_parents - Lives with parents
  • chief_wage - Chief wage earner
  • E023 - Interest in politics
  • A004 - Important in life: Politics
  • A165 - Most people can be trusted
  • E033 - Self positioning in political scale
  • B008 - Protecting environment vs. Economic growth
  • E037 - Government responsibility
  • E001 - Aims of country: first choice
  • satisfact_financial - Satisfaction with household finances
  • no_medicine - Gone without medicine
  • no_income - Gone without income
  • no_food - Gone without food
  • MA3growth_WDI - Average growth (3-year period)
  • MA3crisis_LV - Average crisis incidence (3-year period)

Variables

ISO-3 country code

f13638579 Location:

Variable Format: character

Notes: UNF:6:m8LpRVedY70ZJN+1EEespQ==

Survey year

f13638579 Location:

Summary Statistics: Max. 2019.0; Mean 2004.6098164159675; StDev 9.332898567650316; Valid 422150.0; Min. 1980.0;

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:V2V8u9P4GBnzUP1+lsZ6mA==

Weight

f13638579 Location:

Value

Label

Frequency

Text

0.

undefined

0

1.

No weighting

236286

Summary Statistics: Mean 0.9999949394264718; StDev 0.4052058458222915; Valid 422150.0; Max. 32.25088143795368; Min. 0.036895413603340095

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:REINmwjzl1Kvnl0HCip3Cg==

Satisfaction with the people in national office

f13638579 Location:

Value

Label

Frequency

Text

1.

Very satisfied

7666

-4.

Not asked in survey

297937

3.

Fairly dissatisfied

44473

-2.

No answer

501

2.

Fairly satisfied

40675

4.

Very dissatisfied

25440

-1.

Don´t know

5458

-5.

Missing; Unknown

0

-3.

Not applicable

0

Summary Statistics: Mean -2.0703849342650775; Valid 422150.0; StDev 3.056025862160468; Max. 4.0; Min. -4.0;

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:7cy4yxK8F0xKqiTSiMt7+Q==

Country is run by big interest vs. for all people’s benefit

f13638579 Location:

Value

Label

Frequency

Text

1.

Run by a few big interests

87676

-3.

Not applicable

0

-2.

No answer

831

-4.

Not asked in survey

281394

-1.

Don´t know

13812

-5.

Missing; Unknown

0

2.

Run for all the people

38437

Summary Statistics: Valid 422150.0; StDev 2.434536889793427; Min. -4.0; Mean -2.313158829799952; Max. 2.0

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:otEAYLFkKgx0annVbU/pKg==

Confidence: The Government

f13638579 Location:

Value

Label

Frequency

Text

1.

A great deal

51977

-2.

No answer

2514

-1.

Don´t know

11299

2.

Quite a lot

119546

4.

None at all

70181

-4.

Not asked

40696

3.

Not very much

125708

-5.

Missing; Unknown

229

Summary Statistics: Valid 422150.0; Min. -5.0; StDev 2.210659317029973; Max. 4.0; Mean 1.820824351534069;

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:e3aL9rL3ZI3wSrxR/5jttA==

IMF program active at any point in the year

f13638579 Location:

Summary Statistics: Max. 1.0; Min. 0.0; Mean 0.4067173752282735; Valid 265044.0; StDev 0.4912222127786717;

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:1PoZk0FrzVJ2HFLYcAMjdQ==

Prior actions

f13638579 Location:

Summary Statistics: Min. 0.0; Valid 265044.0; StDev 6.607422880166872; Max. 37.0; Mean 2.1940357072796717

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:sU8crwdgXF4/tUQKmHxvAQ==

Woman

f13638579 Location:

Summary Statistics: StDev 0.49964857794474193; Mean 0.5187589098532591; Min. 0.0; Valid 417375.0; Max. 1.0

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:bg/V0HNVbkh7E42k/rjMsw==

Age

f13638579 Location:

Summary Statistics: Valid 417604.0; Mean 41.13404804551863; Max. 103.0; Min. 13.0; StDev 16.18583760679326;

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:3HcfBodyGH9p8SocW71SAQ==

Married

f13638579 Location:

Summary Statistics: Mean 0.5731398791898179; Max. 1.0; Min. 0.0; Valid 422150.0; StDev 0.4946222170602623;

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:VKNz84umlfEp07Q+vwl6CA==

Number of children

f13638579 Location:

Summary Statistics: StDev 1.5700346994191268; Valid 406560.0; Max. 5.0; Min. 0.0; Mean 1.7936442345533254;

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:mFJKVBT5UqmjqVOScw+Stg==

Education level

f13638579 Location:

Summary Statistics: Valid 299295.0; Min. 1.0; Max. 8.0; StDev 2.229387877556285; Mean 4.712504385305544

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:Oc70ijBkt0SdzSsIYNXk3g==

Lives with parents

f13638579 Location:

Summary Statistics: Max. 1.0; Min. 0.0; Valid 320312.0; StDev 0.45776804985982783; Mean 0.29888046654509887

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:X2DpjDeC2JNFkwhXfvgclA==

Chief wage earner

f13638579 Location:

Summary Statistics: Mean 0.45282084861188726; Valid 381800.0; StDev 0.4977698028599276; Max. 1.0; Min. 0.0

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:7F0CrzGPzbg+UqCd+CB99g==

Interest in politics

f13638579 Location:

Value

Label

Frequency

Text

1.

Very interested

49696

-2.

No answer

1607

3.

Not very interested

125240

-4.

Not asked

8598

-1.

Don´t know

3560

2.

Somewhat interested

137525

4.

Not at all interested

95761

-5.

Missing; Unknown

163

Summary Statistics: Max. 4.0; StDev 1.4115338171303946; Min. -5.0; Valid 422150.0; Mean 2.4672012317896375

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:od6yAgX11GQL2cwaTjBLXg==

Important in life: Politics

f13638579 Location:

Value

Label

Frequency

Text

-5.

Missing; Not available

223

1.

Very important

57506

-4.

Not asked

15624

-1.

Don´t know

6164

-2.

No answer

2114

4.

Not at all important

89182

2.

Rather important

114695

3.

Not very important

136642

Summary Statistics: Min. -5.0; Max. 4.0; Mean 2.3203766433733803; StDev 1.6649608807996035; Valid 422150.0;

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:w1+MgY7gGWnFnONnm2di/g==

Most people can be trusted

f13638579 Location:

Value

Label

Frequency

Text

-1.

Don´t know

10257

-4.

Not asked

2988

-5.

Other: Missing

0

1.

Most people can be trusted

104081

2.

Need to be very careful

301062

-2.

No answer

3762

Summary Statistics: Mean 1.6024446286864733; StDev 0.8393860546501887; Valid 422150.0; Max. 2.0; Min. -4.0;

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:Cxacjzpfslp+abwMEKWS5A==

Self positioning in political scale

f13638579 Location:

Value

Label

Frequency

Text

4.

4

22495

-1.

Don´t know

55989

5.

5

85913

9.

9

13182

6.

6

40168

3.

3

21055

2.

2

10656

8.

8

27318

-2.

No answer

15328

10.

Right

28819

1.

Left

19470

-5.

Missing; Unknown

901

-4.

Not asked

52795

7.

7

28061

Summary Statistics: Valid 422150.0; Mean 3.278382091675952; Max. 10.0; StDev 4.277962090667885; Min. -5.0;

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:fISLmudhBFjVjOpbDIkDQA==

Protecting environment vs. Economic growth

f13638579 Location:

Value

Label

Frequency

Text

2.

Economy growth and creating jobs

146851

-1.

Don´t know

24025

-4.

Not asked

48008

1.

Protecting environment

181465

-2.

No answer

4580

3.

Other answer

16726

-5.

Missing; Unknown

495

Summary Statistics: Valid 422150.0; StDev 1.9052425229430263; Min. -5.0; Mean 0.705088238777822; Max. 3.0;

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:id7WWlTlGg2Yll7aKBi4Dw==

Government responsibility

f13638579 Location:

Value

Label

Frequency

Text

5.

5

32339

8.

8

37138

10.

The government should take more responsibility

87692

-4.

Not asked in survey

16562

9.

9

32569

-5.

Missing; Unknown

227

1.

People should take more responsibility

38800

4.

4

30122

7.

7

31470

-2.

No answer

2163

2.

2

18772

-3.

Not applicable

0

-1.

Don´t know

8096

6.

6

55045

3.

3

31155

Summary Statistics: Min. -5.0; Mean 5.6612388961269975; StDev 3.6906815228984504; Valid 422150.0; Max. 10.0

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:KzJR4/aZL5Danty2RH+q1Q==

Aims of country: first choice

f13638579 Location:

Value

Label

Frequency

Text

-5.

Missing; Unknown

374

-4.

Not asked

28031

2.

Strong defence forces

53654

1.

A high level of economic growth

226104

3.

People have more say about how things are done

73941

-1.

Don´t know

7925

4.

Trying to make our cities and countryside more beautiful

29414

-2.

No answer

2707

Summary Statistics: Valid 422150.0; Max. 4.0; StDev 1.7871937571909489; Mean 1.2923321094393916; Min. -5.0

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:k1SmNR6AizdMIJM+tUlYEA==

Satisfaction with household finances

f13638579 Location:

Summary Statistics: StDev 2.568671670567766; Min. 1.0; Valid 409465.0; Max. 10.0; Mean 5.744002539899611

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:WzrG6BEWorQttRMptl8rjA==

Gone without medicine

f13638579 Location:

Summary Statistics: Mean 1.6466892512423157; StDev 0.921438175670549; Min. 1.0; Max. 4.0; Valid 164419.0;

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:H/y+/vZvvNdtodPvJt/YRg==

Gone without income

f13638579 Location:

Summary Statistics: Max. 4.0; Min. 1.0; StDev 1.023636321756433; Valid 164405.0; Mean 1.87298439828479

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:kVV6gHV74MBCRzdN3WLong==

Gone without food

f13638579 Location:

Summary Statistics: StDev 0.8572066361073944; Valid 164850.0; Max. 4.0; Mean 1.5288201395208711; Min. 1.0

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:BfZEzqPtJgWr1AsA1zM1Lw==

Average growth (3-year period)

f13638579 Location:

Summary Statistics: Valid 354809.0; Max. 54.87883267565285; Mean 3.2997542982692787; Min. -28.527314922946218; StDev 6.2253201958794016

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:0CfOlSlEx3SeVhIWiN5HDg==

Average crisis incidence (3-year period)

f13638579 Location:

Summary Statistics: Mean 0.08948427685793425; Max. 1.0; Valid 391864.0; Min. 0.0; StDev 0.2444092685869105;

Variable Format: numeric

Notes: UNF:6:N2q7afQm80r6um5nth9Xow==

Other Study-Related Materials

Label:

GOATRA_PAK_JEPR.do

Text:

Experimental analysis

Notes:

text/x-stata-syntax

Other Study-Related Materials

Label:

GOATRA_WVS_JEPR.do

Text:

Observational data analysis

Notes:

text/x-stata-syntax

Other Study-Related Materials

Label:

Read Me.txt

Notes:

text/plain