Replication Data for: Unpacking the Effects of Burdensome State Actions on Citizens’ Policy Perceptions

Administrative burdens appear to influence citizens’ perceptions of welfare policies and attitudes toward beneficiaries. However, empirical evidence that has disentangled different state actions’ effects on policy perceptions is scarce. We applied a 2x2x2 factorial survey experiment and manipulated the conceptually distinct state actions implemented in German unemployment benefits. We investigated whether and how exposure to learning demands, compliance demands, and sanctions affected citizens’ prejudices against beneficiaries, policy support, and perceived legitimacy. The results from a sample of 1,602 German citizens indicate that those confronted with program sanctions exhibit less policy support and expect higher policy spending. Similarly, sanctions decreased the Federal Employment Agency’s perceived legitimacy. These results have implications for administrative burden and policy feedback research. Distinguishing different state actions provides nuances to assess policy feedback effects. Practitioners should consider whether program sanctions are necessary because they evoke unintended policy feedback effects.

行政负担（administrative burdens）似乎会影响公民对福利政策的认知以及对福利受益人的态度。然而，目前鲜有实证研究能够厘清不同政府行为对政策认知的具体影响。本研究采用2×2×2析因调查实验（factorial survey experiment），对德国失业救济金体系中概念上相互独立的政府行为进行了操控。我们探究了接触学习要求、合规要求以及处罚措施，是否以及如何影响公民对福利受益人的偏见、政策支持度与感知合法性。基于1602名德国公民的样本数据，结果显示：遭遇项目处罚的群体对政策的支持度更低，且预期更高的政策支出规模。同样，处罚措施会降低民众对联邦就业局（Federal Employment Agency）的感知合法性。上述研究结果对行政负担与政策反馈研究具有重要启示。区分不同类型的政府行为，能够为政策反馈效应的评估提供更精细化的分析视角。政策实践者应审慎考量项目处罚措施的必要性，因其可能引发非预期的政策反馈效应。