This paper examines the effects of the economic crisis on representation linkages between politicians and voters in Portugal. One central question we investigate is whether the (detected in previous research) move of Portuguese right-wing parties to the right, in terms of their policy agenda, is reflected in the attitudes and behaviour of Portuguese political figures, in particular MPs. If so, are the same trends observed among voters? In other words, can a leadership effect be detected in the representation process (also described as «representation from above»). Or, on the contrary, has the crisis led to a greater discrepancy between the representatives and represented, accentuating the signs of a crisis in representation? We have a very rich set of surveys that, although based on a single case study, can provide a crucial test for the “representation from above” theory in Portugal. Namely, we have two surveys on both voters and MPs, which were fielded right in the beginning of the 2008 economic crisis (March – July 2008) and after the effects of the crisis were deeply felt by both the voters and the MPs (October 2012 – March 2013). These surveys have extensive batteries on position issues (used in the research networks to which our research project is connected: the CCS & PARENEL) which allow us to measure underlying value orientations at both the elite and voters level (the same questionnaires were fielded across levels and across time), and especially their change between 2008 and 2012-13. Thus, using the 2008 economic crisis as a quasi-experiment, these four sets of surveys will allow us to perform a crucial test on the effects of a deep economic crisis on value change and political representation, namely providing a crucial test for the «representation from above» theory.
