This paper investigates public perceptions and support for policies aimed at integrating immigrant workers into domestic labor markets. Through large-scale surveys involving 6,300 respondents from Canada, Italy, and the United Kingdom, we provide new insights into attitudes toward migrant integration policies and the impact of different information provisions on belief updating. We identify three key factors that shape policy support: pre-existing stereotypes about immigrants, awareness of labor market integration policies for migrants, and, most critically, the perceived economic and social impact of these policies. Our findings reveal that providing information about the economic effects of integrating immigrants in the labor market significantly alters perceptions and increases support for these policies. Notably, explanations of the economic mechanisms underlying these policies are more effective than simply presenting policy effects or real-life stories of integration challenges. The survey also identifies the primary barriers to policy support, with fairness considerations toward unemployed native workers emerging as the top concern. It reveals that addressing individuals’ specific concerns through tailored mitigation measures can enhance support for policies aimed at better integration migrants. Nevertheless, a significant challenge remains in overcoming mistrust in the government’s commitment and ability to effectively implement these policies and accompanying measures.
Authors
Silvia Albrizio, Hippolyte W. Balima, Bertrand Gruss, Eric Huang, Colombe Ladreit
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.5089/9798400290374.001
- ISBN
- 9798400290374
- ISSN
- 1018-5941
- Issue
- 217
- Pages
- 91
- Published in
- United States of America
- Series
- Working Paper No. 2024/217
- Stock No
- WPIEA2024217
- Volume
- 2024
Table of Contents
- MI_Open 1
- MI_Reforms 4
- Introduction 7
- Related literature 10
- The survey 12
- Data 12
- Sample 13
- Structure of the questionnaire 14
- Randomization in the questionnaire 18
- Quality checks 19
- Real-stakes questions 19
- The role of knowledge and beliefs versus socioeconomic characteristics 20
- Stereotypes 20
- Perceived policy effects 20
- Beliefs, socioeconomic characteristics and support 22
- Randomized Experiment results 27
- Policy support 28
- First stage: effect on beliefs 30
- Real-stakes questions 31
- Heterogeneity 33
- Correcting stereotypes and biased beliefs driven by political views 33
- Cross-country heterogeneity 37
- The role of mitigation policies 38
- Robustness 40
- Test of randomization 41
- Alternative support variable and control sets 41
- Weighted ordinary least squares 42
- Dropping respondents perceiving the survey as biased 42
- Conclusion 42
- Appendix 48
- Sample statistics and variables description 48
- Determinants of stereotypes about immigrants 53
- Robustness checks 54
- Additional balance tests of covariates 57
- Questionnaire 60
- MI_close 91
