Macroeconomic time consistency and wartime presidential approval

► Economic and casualty effects upon popularity are systematic in the post-WWII era. ► Economic effect on wartime job approval is greatest during the Iraq/Afghanistan wars. ► Casualty effect on wartime job approval is greatest during the Vietnam Conflict. ► The median citizen's macroeconomic preference is time consistent during wartime. ► Wartime macroeconomic overheating causes presidential approval to decline.