Variation in Public Opinion on International Trade: A First Look at Cultural Distance

Abstract

We examine data from the 2014 US-Germany Trade Survey data, employing regression analysis to identify the determinants of individuals’ opinions of international trade while paying particular attention to the potential influence that cross-societal cultural differences may have on public opinion. We also provide a descriptive analysis in addition to our econometric estimation of a series of probability models. The corresponding results are then employed to generate estimated probabilities, at different levels of cultural distance, of individuals’ views of international trade (i.e., as bad or good or, in more detailed terms, as a very bad thing, somewhat bad, somewhat good, or a very good thing). By estimating probabilities and comparing the corresponding values at different levels of cultural distance, we are able to quantify the estimated influence of cultural distance on public opinion.