A map of discontent: economic distress or public service deprivation?

Recent Italian parliamentary elections in Italy, similar to those in other countries, have highlighted growing populist sentiments. This study examines whether such political discontent can be attributed to economic distress or a deficiency in public services, using new data on tribunal and hospital closures, which we consider exogenous. Economic distress in a municipality is identified through the cost of job loss for residents working outside the municipality. The findings indicate that hospital closures are significantly linked to higher shares of populist votes at the municipality level during the 2008, 2013 and 2018 Italian elections, even after conditioning for the effects of economic shocks.