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The Role of Social Capital in Shaping Europeans’ Immigration Sentiments

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  • Economidou Claire

    (Department of Economics, University of Piraeus, Piraeus185 34, Greece)

  • Karamanis Dimitris

    (Department of Economics, University of Piraeus, Piraeus185 34, Greece)

  • Kechrinioti Alexandra

    (Department of Economics, University of Piraeus, Piraeus185 34, Greece)

  • Xesfingi Sofia

    (Department of Economics, University of Piraeus, Piraeus185 34, Greece)

Abstract

Migration has manifested itself to historic highs, creating divisive views among politicians, policy makers, and individuals. The present paper studies the Europeans’ attitudes toward immigration, focusing particularly on the role of social capital. Based on 267,282 respondents from 22 countries and over the period 2002–2014, we find that despite the eventful past years, Europeans, on average, are positive toward immigrants with the North European countries to be the least xenophobic. A salient finding of our analysis is that regardless of the impact of other contextual factors, namely, a country’s macroeconomic conditions, ethnic diversity, cultural origin, and individuals’ attributes, social capital associates with positive attitudes toward all immigrants, independent of their background. Furthermore, social capital moderates the negative effects of perceived threat on people’s opinions about immigrants.

Suggested Citation

  • Economidou Claire & Karamanis Dimitris & Kechrinioti Alexandra & Xesfingi Sofia, 2020. "The Role of Social Capital in Shaping Europeans’ Immigration Sentiments," IZA Journal of Development and Migration, Sciendo & Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 11(1), pages 1-31, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:vrs:izajdm:v:11:y:2020:i:1:p:31:n:13
    DOI: 10.2478/izajodm-2020-0003
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    Cited by:

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    2. Annamaria Nese, 2023. "Migrations in Italy and Perceptions of Ethnic Threat," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 24(3), pages 939-968, September.
    3. Lange, Martin, 2021. "The legacy of state socialism on attitudes toward immigration," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 49(3), pages 733-750.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    immigration; social capital; public attitude; survey; Europe;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C25 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Discrete Regression and Qualitative Choice Models; Discrete Regressors; Proportions; Probabilities
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • O52 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Europe

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