How Rational is the Response of Individuals to the Threat of Terrorism in Europe?

This Policy Briefing addresses two important questions. What at the drivers of concern about terrorism and how terrorism affects the policy preferences of voters. We find that while a higher level of terrorist concern does increase people’s willingness to trade off civil liberties for more security, a singular attack has only a temporary effect. After only a few months, people’s preferences return towards their pre-attack levels.