Visualizing the Decline in Cultural Participation in Europe Post-crisis

Whether cultural practices change gradually—at the timescale of generations—or can be lastingly affected by short-term exogenous shocks is a question that continues to inspire much debate in social sciences. Previous work shows trends participation, if they exist, tend slow and gradual, responding cohort changes impervious period-specific events. Here I use data from two Eurobarometer surveys fielded just before (2007) immediate aftermath (2013) Great Recession-related eurozone crisis visualize impact once-in-a-generation shock for four national cases most deeply affected: Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece. In all cases, with possible exception we observe steep increases rates nonparticipation, impacting particularly less educated, except Greece, which see general negative impacts on participation across levels education. Overall, results depicted this visualization suggest large at timescales below gradual change.