Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP15486
Authors: Alberto Alesina; Marco Tabellini
Abstract: We review the growing literature on the political economy of immigration. First, we discuss the effects of immigration on a wide range of political and social outcomes. The existing evidence suggests that immigrants often, but not always, trigger backlash, increasing support for anti-immigrant parties and lowering preferences for redistribution and diversity among natives. Next, we unpack the channels behind the political effects of immigration. While completely separating economic from non-economic forces is impossible, we conclude that the latter are more important than the former. In examining the mechanisms, we highlight mediating factors -- such as (mis-)perceptions, the media, and the conditions under which inter-group contact occurs -- that can influence natives' reactions in different directions. Throughout the review, we outline promising avenues for future research.
Keywords: No keywords provided
JEL Codes: D72; J11; J15; J61; Z1
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| immigration (F22) | backlash among natives (J15) |
| backlash among natives (J15) | increased support for anti-immigrant parties (F55) |
| immigration (F22) | lower preferences for redistribution among natives (J15) |
| immigration (F22) | lower preferences for diversity among natives (J15) |
| unskilled immigration (K37) | increased support for right-wing parties (F52) |
| high-skilled immigration (J61) | no significant effect on support for right-wing parties (D79) |
| historical instances of immigration (K37) | observable political shifts (P27) |