Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/240500 
Year of Publication: 
2020
Series/Report no.: 
IFN Working Paper No. 1357
Publisher: 
Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN), Stockholm
Abstract: 
We examine how variation in antisemitism across countries can be explained by economic freedom. We propose two mechanisms. First, the more economic freedom, the greater the scope of market activities. If people perceive the consequences of the market economy as detrimental, they will be more hostile towards those seen as mainly responsible. If Jews are seen as such, this implies that a greater reliance on markets increases antisemitism. Second, a key type of institution undergirding the market is an effective and fair legal system, or the rule of law. The stronger the rule of law, the smaller the risk for exploitative behaviour, and the less hostile people will be towards groups seen as exploiters. If Jews are seen as such, more economic freedom reduces antisemitism. We use the ADL Global 100 survey of antisemitic attitudes and relate them, for up to 106 countries, to the Economic Freedom of the World index and its five areas. Our empirical findings confirm the two predictions: The more economic openness, the more antisemitism; and the stronger the rule of law, the less antisemitism. These findings indicate a complex relationship between markets and attitudes towards Jews.
Subjects: 
Markets
Economic freedom
Tolerance
Globalization
Jews
Antisemitism
Racism
Persecution
JEL: 
D02
D63
F10
F20
F30
J15
K40
P14
Z12
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
874.92 kB





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