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Illegal immigration and media exposure: Evidence on individual attitudes

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  • Mayda, Anna Maria
  • Facchini, Giovanni
  • Puglisi, Riccardo

Abstract

Illegal immigration has been the focus of much debate in receiving countries, but little is known about what drives individual attitudes towards illegal immigrants. To study this question, we use the CCES survey, which was carried out in 2006 in the United States. We find evidence that - in addition to standard labor market and welfare state considerations - media exposure is significantly correlated with public opinion on illegal immigration. Controlling for education, income and ideology, individuals watching Fox News are 9 percentage points more likely than CBS viewers to oppose the legalization of undocumented immigrants. We find an effect of the same size and direction for CNN viewers, whereas individuals watching PBS are instead more likely to support legalization. Ideological self-selection into different news programs plays an important role, but cannot entirely explain the correlation between media exposure and attitudes about illegal immigration.

Suggested Citation

  • Mayda, Anna Maria & Facchini, Giovanni & Puglisi, Riccardo, 2009. "Illegal immigration and media exposure: Evidence on individual attitudes," CEPR Discussion Papers 7593, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:7593
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Immigration; Illegal immigration; Attitudes; Preferences; Media;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F1 - International Economics - - Trade
    • 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

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