Referendums in Times of Crisis: Why do Voters Appear to Vote 'Yes' in Times of Economic Crisis?

A Comparative Analysis of Referendums in Crisis: Comparative research suggests that the referendum institution is used to resolve controversial issues by referring them back to the voters. How has the financial crisis impacted on the growing use of referendums? Through a comparative study of referendums in developed capitalist societies this paper suggests that - paradoxically - governments seem become less likely to submit issues to referendums.