Risk attitudes and economic security to constitutional change: Catalan & Scottish cases

Abstract

This paper tries to analyse both risk attitudes and material security as possible causes of change in political decisions and behaviours from the local population in Catalonia and Scotland. In other words, the aim is pointed at the change of mind due to internal reasons, which here are attitudes facing risk and households’ economic situation. I obtained significant and positive results of risk attitudes as a determinant of suport for independence in both regions. National identity, first language spoken and economic expectations are as well strong factors of determining this support in Catalonia. However, it is still not clear enough to assume that the economic argument matters in explaining secession’s support in Scotland.