Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/236385 
Year of Publication: 
2021
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 14354
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
We review the growing literature on the political effects of immigration. After a brief summary of the economics of immigration, we turn to the main focus of the paper: how immigrants influence electoral outcomes in receiving countries, and why. We start from the "standard" view that immigration triggers political backlash and raises support for nativist, anti-immigrant political parties. We present evidence from a variety of studies that the causes of natives' political discontent are unlikely to have (solely) economic roots, but are instead more tightly linked to cultural and social concerns. Next, we discuss works that paint a more nuanced picture of the effects of immigration, which, in some cases, can move natives' preferences in a more liberal direction. We also consider the factors that can explain a seemingly puzzling empirical regularity: the anti-immigration rhetoric has become a banner of right wing parties. We conclude by outlining what, to us, are promising avenues for future research.
Subjects: 
immigration
diversity
culture
politics
JEL: 
D72
J11
J15
J61
Z1
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
691.98 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.