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Effect of Media News on Radicalization of Attitudes to Immigration

Author

Listed:
  • Massimiliano Agovino

    (University Parthenope)

  • Maria Rosaria Carillo

    (University Parthenope)

  • Nicola Spagnolo

    (Centre for Applied Macroeconomic Analysis (CAMA)
    Brunel University London
    Universita’ degli Studi della Campania)

Abstract

Recent years have witnessed a growing aversion to immigration worldwide and, at the same time, radicalization of public opinion on the issue. This paper explores the relationship between media news and individual attitudes to immigration. We run an empirical analysis whereby an index capturing individuals’ pro-immigration attitude, measured in 19 countries, is regressed over indexes capturing the coverage and tone of media news about immigration. We find that pro-immigration attitudes are negatively correlated with media coverage and the negative tone of news. However, this correlation is significant only for those with high trust in the media. In the case of low trust, higher coverage of immigration and a negative news slant make previous preferences and beliefs vis-à-vis immigration more extreme, yielding a lower pro-immigration index for those politically on the right, while the opposite applies to those on the left. The pro-immigration index is constructed by means of fuzzy methods to account for the many aspects defining attitudes to immigration.

Suggested Citation

  • Massimiliano Agovino & Maria Rosaria Carillo & Nicola Spagnolo, 2022. "Effect of Media News on Radicalization of Attitudes to Immigration," Journal of Economics, Race, and Policy, Springer, vol. 5(4), pages 318-340, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joerap:v:5:y:2022:i:4:d:10.1007_s41996-021-00091-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s41996-021-00091-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hatton, Timothy J., 2017. "Public Opinion on Immigration in Europe: Preference versus Salience," IZA Discussion Papers 10838, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Sara Lelli, 2001. "Factor Analysis vs. Fuzzy Sets Theory: Assessing the Influence of Different Techniques on Sen's Functioning Approach," Public Economics Working Paper Series ces0121, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Centrum voor Economische Studiën, Working Group Public Economics.
    3. Francisco Rivera-Batiz & Myeong-Su Yun & Ira Gang, 2002. "Economic Strain, Ethnic Concentration and Attitudes Towards Foreigners in the European Union," Departmental Working Papers 200214, Rutgers University, Department of Economics.
    4. Couttenier, Mathieu & Hatte, Sophie & Vlachos, Stephanos & Thoenig, Mathias, 2019. "The Logic of Fear - Populism and Media Coverage of Immigrant Crimes," CEPR Discussion Papers 13496, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    5. Hainmueller, Jens & Hiscox, Michael J., 2007. "Educated Preferences: Explaining Attitudes Toward Immigration in Europe," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 61(2), pages 399-442, April.
    6. Kenneth F. Scheve & Matthew J. Slaughter, 2001. "Labor Market Competition And Individual Preferences Over Immigration Policy," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 83(1), pages 133-145, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Lenka Dražanová & Jérôme Gonnot, 2023. "Public Opinion and Immigration in Europe: Can Regional Migration Flows Predict Public Attitudes to Immigration?," RSCAS Working Papers 2023/18, European University Institute.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Attitudes to immigration; Fuzzy analysis; Media coverage and tone; Media news; Political orientation; Trust in media;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H89 - Public Economics - - Miscellaneous Issues - - - Other
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • Z19 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Other

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