Leo Ahrens
@leoahrens.bsky.social
PolSci researcher at the Varieties of Egalitarianism project @EXCInequality. Politics of inequality, tax & welfare policies, public opinion, voting behavior.
leoahrens.eu
leoahrens.eu
This is the first time I see one of my packages used in an actual journal article. Cool stuff! This is the fedistr Stata command for those wondering.
November 19, 2025 at 8:34 AM
This is the first time I see one of my packages used in an actual journal article. Cool stuff! This is the fedistr Stata command for those wondering.
Free eprints for my JEPOP article
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/JN5C9...
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/JN5C9...
I have a new research note out in JEPOP. I argue that higher government quality leads to a stronger rift in public attitudes on redistribution. Here’s a thread summarizing my argument and findings.
doi.org/10.1080/1745...
polisky cpesky
doi.org/10.1080/1745...
polisky cpesky
November 17, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Free eprints for my JEPOP article
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/JN5C9...
www.tandfonline.com/eprint/JN5C9...
Frank and I have a new-ish chapter out reviewing the electoral politics of welfare state reforms. A preprint is available on my website (leoahrens.eu/publications).
doi.org/10.4337/9781...
doi.org/10.4337/9781...
doi.org
November 10, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Frank and I have a new-ish chapter out reviewing the electoral politics of welfare state reforms. A preprint is available on my website (leoahrens.eu/publications).
doi.org/10.4337/9781...
doi.org/10.4337/9781...
I drafted a correlation heatmap package for Stata. Does something like this already exist? I want to make sure before I put more work into this.
November 2, 2025 at 12:49 PM
I drafted a correlation heatmap package for Stata. Does something like this already exist? I want to make sure before I put more work into this.
Reposted by Leo Ahrens
Today at 2 and tomorrow at 12, these two panels take place at @apsa.bsky.social. The papers are so intriguing that I finished reading them pre-arrival! 😱 @leoahrens.bsky.social & me also present. Including work on the class biases in pledge breaking
#APSA2025 #polisky @apsainequality.bsky.social
#APSA2025 #polisky @apsainequality.bsky.social
September 11, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Today at 2 and tomorrow at 12, these two panels take place at @apsa.bsky.social. The papers are so intriguing that I finished reading them pre-arrival! 😱 @leoahrens.bsky.social & me also present. Including work on the class biases in pledge breaking
#APSA2025 #polisky @apsainequality.bsky.social
#APSA2025 #polisky @apsainequality.bsky.social
What do you think about Achen/Bartel's Democracy for Realists? I really liked the book but its implications are dire for my research field (& my past research), which commonly relies on the "folk theory" of democracy
July 10, 2025 at 9:58 AM
What do you think about Achen/Bartel's Democracy for Realists? I really liked the book but its implications are dire for my research field (& my past research), which commonly relies on the "folk theory" of democracy
Reposted by Leo Ahrens
1/3) 📣Out in Party Politics:
We trace the equal rights and economic equality positions of 69 center-right and far-right parties since 1970 in 12 countries. We find that center right parties did not react to/address equal rights concerns and economic inequality
journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10....
We trace the equal rights and economic equality positions of 69 center-right and far-right parties since 1970 in 12 countries. We find that center right parties did not react to/address equal rights concerns and economic inequality
journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10....
July 4, 2025 at 10:18 AM
1/3) 📣Out in Party Politics:
We trace the equal rights and economic equality positions of 69 center-right and far-right parties since 1970 in 12 countries. We find that center right parties did not react to/address equal rights concerns and economic inequality
journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10....
We trace the equal rights and economic equality positions of 69 center-right and far-right parties since 1970 in 12 countries. We find that center right parties did not react to/address equal rights concerns and economic inequality
journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10....
Reposted by Leo Ahrens
📬🚩
Our article on parties' programmatic responses to inequality - and more often the lack of responses - will come out in APSR!
Here is the @excinequality.bsky.social working paper:
kops.uni-konstanz.de/bitstreams/4...
with @klueserthan.bsky.social & Martin Haselmayer 🧗🙏
Our article on parties' programmatic responses to inequality - and more often the lack of responses - will come out in APSR!
Here is the @excinequality.bsky.social working paper:
kops.uni-konstanz.de/bitstreams/4...
with @klueserthan.bsky.social & Martin Haselmayer 🧗🙏
June 23, 2025 at 9:06 AM
📬🚩
Our article on parties' programmatic responses to inequality - and more often the lack of responses - will come out in APSR!
Here is the @excinequality.bsky.social working paper:
kops.uni-konstanz.de/bitstreams/4...
with @klueserthan.bsky.social & Martin Haselmayer 🧗🙏
Our article on parties' programmatic responses to inequality - and more often the lack of responses - will come out in APSR!
Here is the @excinequality.bsky.social working paper:
kops.uni-konstanz.de/bitstreams/4...
with @klueserthan.bsky.social & Martin Haselmayer 🧗🙏
Reposted by Leo Ahrens
Did German left parties abandon economic equality in favor of equal rights, as the diagnosis of the "Lifestyle-Left" suggests? Analyzing party programs since 1970, we caution against sweeping claims in Unequal German Democracy (open access). 3 key qualifications👇
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
March 14, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Did German left parties abandon economic equality in favor of equal rights, as the diagnosis of the "Lifestyle-Left" suggests? Analyzing party programs since 1970, we caution against sweeping claims in Unequal German Democracy (open access). 3 key qualifications👇
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
I got the comment "this study is not worthwhile because you cannot claim clausality from cross-sectional data" in a review. I'll share my response here. Unfortunately the reviewer dropped out of the pool - I am interested in what you think. Thread.
polisky cpesky
polisky cpesky
June 6, 2024 at 1:48 PM
I got the comment "this study is not worthwhile because you cannot claim clausality from cross-sectional data" in a review. I'll share my response here. Unfortunately the reviewer dropped out of the pool - I am interested in what you think. Thread.
polisky cpesky
polisky cpesky
I have a new section on my website where I share Word/Powerpoint presets for articles and slides. Visit leoahrens.eu/formatting-p....
May 19, 2024 at 1:14 PM
I have a new section on my website where I share Word/Powerpoint presets for articles and slides. Visit leoahrens.eu/formatting-p....
I have a new research note out in JEPOP. I argue that higher government quality leads to a stronger rift in public attitudes on redistribution. Here’s a thread summarizing my argument and findings.
doi.org/10.1080/1745...
polisky cpesky
doi.org/10.1080/1745...
polisky cpesky
May 17, 2024 at 8:07 AM
I have a new research note out in JEPOP. I argue that higher government quality leads to a stronger rift in public attitudes on redistribution. Here’s a thread summarizing my argument and findings.
doi.org/10.1080/1745...
polisky cpesky
doi.org/10.1080/1745...
polisky cpesky
Reposted by Leo Ahrens
[2/n] In our new paper with @arnovanhootegem.bsky.social & @annanhelgoy.bsky.social, we study how people’s firsthand experience with welfare benefits shapes their perception of system abuse by their fellow citizens.
Read it here: doi.org/10.1111/1475...
Read it here: doi.org/10.1111/1475...
Formative personal experiences: How benefit recipiency and income changes shape perceptions of system abuse
Perceptions that others will contribute their fair share are fundamental to the legitimacy of the political system. To better understand how these perceptions take shape beyond the influence of polit....
doi.org
May 9, 2024 at 6:06 PM
[2/n] In our new paper with @arnovanhootegem.bsky.social & @annanhelgoy.bsky.social, we study how people’s firsthand experience with welfare benefits shapes their perception of system abuse by their fellow citizens.
Read it here: doi.org/10.1111/1475...
Read it here: doi.org/10.1111/1475...
Reposted by Leo Ahrens
🥳New pre-print on #PanelData Analysis with @nicolekapelle.bsky.social
Explore the power of tracking between-person differences & within-person changes over time📈🧐 with an example on
#Marriage & #SexualSatisfaction
Link: doi.org/10.31235/osf...
Explore the power of tracking between-person differences & within-person changes over time📈🧐 with an example on
#Marriage & #SexualSatisfaction
Link: doi.org/10.31235/osf...
May 3, 2024 at 1:17 PM
🥳New pre-print on #PanelData Analysis with @nicolekapelle.bsky.social
Explore the power of tracking between-person differences & within-person changes over time📈🧐 with an example on
#Marriage & #SexualSatisfaction
Link: doi.org/10.31235/osf...
Explore the power of tracking between-person differences & within-person changes over time📈🧐 with an example on
#Marriage & #SexualSatisfaction
Link: doi.org/10.31235/osf...
Reposted by Leo Ahrens
Frank Bandau and I analyze whether governments experience electoral consequences after PIT and VAT tax reforms in a new Electoral Studies publication.
Below is a thread summarizing our findings.
Open access: doi.org/10.1016/j.el...
Below is a thread summarizing our findings.
Open access: doi.org/10.1016/j.el...
March 28, 2024 at 10:20 AM
Frank Bandau and I analyze whether governments experience electoral consequences after PIT and VAT tax reforms in a new Electoral Studies publication.
Below is a thread summarizing our findings.
Open access: doi.org/10.1016/j.el...
Below is a thread summarizing our findings.
Open access: doi.org/10.1016/j.el...
polisky cpesky
Frank Bandau and I analyze whether governments experience electoral consequences after PIT and VAT tax reforms in a new Electoral Studies publication.
Below is a thread summarizing our findings.
Open access: doi.org/10.1016/j.el...
Below is a thread summarizing our findings.
Open access: doi.org/10.1016/j.el...
March 28, 2024 at 12:28 PM
polisky cpesky
Frank Bandau and I analyze whether governments experience electoral consequences after PIT and VAT tax reforms in a new Electoral Studies publication.
Below is a thread summarizing our findings.
Open access: doi.org/10.1016/j.el...
Below is a thread summarizing our findings.
Open access: doi.org/10.1016/j.el...
March 28, 2024 at 10:20 AM
Frank Bandau and I analyze whether governments experience electoral consequences after PIT and VAT tax reforms in a new Electoral Studies publication.
Below is a thread summarizing our findings.
Open access: doi.org/10.1016/j.el...
Below is a thread summarizing our findings.
Open access: doi.org/10.1016/j.el...
polisky cpesky
I just published a lit review on the impact of public opinion on political behavior, politics, and policies. It focuses on CPE research. Here is a thread that summarizes the main points.
Open access: doi.org/10.1007/s413...
Open access: doi.org/10.1007/s413...
March 22, 2024 at 11:02 AM
polisky cpesky
I just published a lit review on the impact of public opinion on political behavior, politics, and policies. It focuses on CPE research. Here is a thread that summarizes the main points.
Open access: doi.org/10.1007/s413...
Open access: doi.org/10.1007/s413...
March 22, 2024 at 9:23 AM
I just published a lit review on the impact of public opinion on political behavior, politics, and policies. It focuses on CPE research. Here is a thread that summarizes the main points.
Open access: doi.org/10.1007/s413...
Open access: doi.org/10.1007/s413...
Reposted by Leo Ahrens
This seems like a great package for Stata.
I’m releasing ISOCODES, a new Stata package to generate standardized country code variables.
Feed in a string variable identifying countries and isocodes outputs numeric/2-3 letter codes (ISO3166) or full country names.
I’ll give you a short motivation and rundown below.
Feed in a string variable identifying countries and isocodes outputs numeric/2-3 letter codes (ISO3166) or full country names.
I’ll give you a short motivation and rundown below.
March 21, 2024 at 1:47 PM
This seems like a great package for Stata.
I sent a 1000DPI file to the journal but the figure ends up looking like this in the pub (ok but not great).
I only use pixelated images w/ opaque elements (eg the scatter points here). Why don't journal accept a vector file format that supports opacity, such as EMF?
I only use pixelated images w/ opaque elements (eg the scatter points here). Why don't journal accept a vector file format that supports opacity, such as EMF?
March 19, 2024 at 10:11 PM
I sent a 1000DPI file to the journal but the figure ends up looking like this in the pub (ok but not great).
I only use pixelated images w/ opaque elements (eg the scatter points here). Why don't journal accept a vector file format that supports opacity, such as EMF?
I only use pixelated images w/ opaque elements (eg the scatter points here). Why don't journal accept a vector file format that supports opacity, such as EMF?
Reposted by Leo Ahrens
www.zeit.de/kultur/2024-...
Soziologe Linus Westheuser im Interview
Soziologe Linus Westheuser im Interview
Arbeitskampf: "Der Begriff der Arbeit wird gerade von rechts besetzt"
Der Verteilungskonflikt zwischen Oben und Unten spielt in aktuellen Debatten kaum eine Rolle, sagt der Soziologe Linus Westheuser. Daran sei nicht zuletzt die SPD schuld.
www.zeit.de
February 11, 2024 at 4:32 PM
www.zeit.de/kultur/2024-...
Soziologe Linus Westheuser im Interview
Soziologe Linus Westheuser im Interview
For enjoyers of binned scatter plots: "On Binscatter" by Cattaneo et al is now out in AER. It comes with Stata, R, and Python packages for binned scatter plots.
On Binscatter
(Forthcoming Article) - Binscatter is a popular method for visualizing bivariate relationships and conducting informal
specification testing. We study the properties of this method formally and develo...
www.aeaweb.org
January 17, 2024 at 9:22 PM
For enjoyers of binned scatter plots: "On Binscatter" by Cattaneo et al is now out in AER. It comes with Stata, R, and Python packages for binned scatter plots.
I want to use an instrumental variable design but I have several IVs and not one. I read that this can lead to issues. How would I go about combining the IVs into one?
January 17, 2024 at 8:39 PM
I want to use an instrumental variable design but I have several IVs and not one. I read that this can lead to issues. How would I go about combining the IVs into one?
Here is a long thread about modelling clustered data, focusing on issues surrounding coefficient and standard error estimation and weighting. Let me know what you think. I would really like to know if my conclusions are correct because they often go against the grain in PolSci.
January 10, 2024 at 12:11 PM
Here is a long thread about modelling clustered data, focusing on issues surrounding coefficient and standard error estimation and weighting. Let me know what you think. I would really like to know if my conclusions are correct because they often go against the grain in PolSci.