American Economic Journal: Applied Economics · 2025 · Nico Voigtländer、Hans-Joachim Voth
中文摘要
我们的研究表明，纳粹德国高速公路网络的建设提升了民众对阿道夫·希特勒的支持，从而助力巩固了纳粹独裁统治。直接的地方经济利益不太可能解释这一效应。相反，这反映了成功的宣传：纳粹政权将高速公路塑造为经济复苏与紧缩终结的象征。在高速公路建设与广播普及率提高同时发生的地区，以及政治不稳定的地区，支持率上升尤为显著。我们的研究结果表明，当选民被引导将醒目的基础设施项目与经济进步及政治不稳定的终结联系起来时，此类项目可以提升民众对独裁政权的支持。(JEL D72, E32, H54, N44, N94, R42, R53)
Abstract
We show that the building of the Autobahn network in Nazi Germany boosted popular support for Adolf Hitler, helping to entrench the Nazi dictatorship. Direct local economic benefits are unlikely to explain the effect. Instead, it reflects successful propaganda: The regime portrayed the Autobahn as a symbol of recovery and the end of austerity. Support rose particularly strongly where highway construction coincided with greater radio availability and in politically unstable regions. Our findings suggest that visible infrastructure projects can raise support for autocratic regimes when voters are led to associate them with economic progress and an end to political instability. (JEL D72, E32, H54, N44, N94, R42, R53)