From Crisis to Technocracy: Economic Pressure, Institutional Factors, and the Rise of Non-Partisan Governance in the Eurozone (2006-2015)

Greta Comedini

doi:10.22151/politikon.60.4

Authors

Greta Comedini University of Siena https://orcid.org/0009-0001-4000-2487

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22151/politikon.60.4

Keywords:

Economic Governance, Government Debt, Political Responsibility, Technocratic Ministers, Economic Crisis, Legislative Fractionalisation, Government Formation, Eurozone, European Sovereign Debt Crisis, Technocracy

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between economic crises, institutional factors, and technocratic appointments in European governments during the 2006-2015 period, with a specific focus on the European sovereign debt crisis (2010-2015). Using data from twelve Eurozone member states, the study demonstrates that countries most severely affected by the crisis—Greece, Italy, and Portugal—were the only ones to resort to technocratic appointments between 2011 and 2015. The analysis operationalises technocratic appointments as fully technocratic governments, technocrat-led governments, or technocratic ministers of finance. Through regression analysis, the study reveals that both general government gross debt and legislative fractionalisation serve as predictors for technocratic appointments, with gross debt showing a stronger impact. The findings confirm existing literature suggesting governments tend to appoint non-partisan, expert ministers during severe economic crises, potentially as a strategy to dilute political responsibility while maintaining governmental effectiveness. This research contributes to understanding how economic pressures reshape political institutions and decision-making during crisis periods.

Author Biography

Greta Comedini, University of Siena

Greta Comedini was recently involved in REDIRECT, a research project co-funded by the European Union. She previously worked as a Junior Project Manager at the CREDO Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence in Cultural Relations and Diplomacy. She holds a degree in Political Science from the University of Siena, where she is now pursuing a Master's in Public and Cultural Diplomacy. Since 2021, she has collaborated with CIRCaP—the Centre for the Study of Political Change—following an internship at the institute.

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