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Biased beliefs about immigration and economic concerns: Evidence from representative experiments

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  • Dylong, Patrick
  • Uebelmesser, Silke
Abstract
We investigate the causal relationship between biased beliefs about immigrants and the host country's attitudes towards immigration. Using representative survey experiments with over 7000 respondents, we find substantial biases in respondents' beliefs about the immigrant population in several domains. Exposure to different types of information about immigrants reduces concerns about negative effects of immigration on the welfare state. On the contrary, different types of information offset their effects on concerns about increased competition in the labor market. Using a data-driven approach to uncover systematic heterogeneity in treatment effects, we find that prior beliefs about immigration and their distribution in the host country's population are crucial for the effectiveness of information interventions. We conclude that different distributions of beliefs therefore require appropriately targeted information policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Dylong, Patrick & Uebelmesser, Silke, 2024. "Biased beliefs about immigration and economic concerns: Evidence from representative experiments," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 217(C), pages 453-482.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:217:y:2024:i:c:p:453-482
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2023.11.017
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    Cited by:

    1. Peter, Julia & Übelmesser, Silke, 2023. "Regional Determinants of Attitudes Towards Immigrants," VfS Annual Conference 2023 (Regensburg): Growth and the "sociale Frage" 277664, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    2. Hayo, Bernd & Roth, Duncan H.W., 2024. "The Perceived Impact of Immigration on Native Workers' Labour Market Outcomes," IZA Discussion Papers 17278, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Elisa Stumpf & Silke Uebelmesser, 2024. "Lifting the Veil of Ignorance – Survey Experiments on Preferences for Wealth Redistribution," CESifo Working Paper Series 11126, CESifo.
    4. Patrick Dylong & Silke Übelmesser, 2024. "Vorbehalte gegenüber Zuwanderung: Die Rolle von Kontakten und Informationen," ifo Dresden berichtet, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 31(01), pages 17-23, February.
    5. Patrick Rehill, 2024. "How do applied researchers use the Causal Forest? A methodological review of a method," Papers 2404.13356, arXiv.org.
    6. Elisa Stumpf & Jana Schuetz & Silke Uebelmesser & Ronja Baginski & Carmela Aprea, 2024. "Beliefs about demographic change: How well are individuals informed?," Jena Economics Research Papers 2024-003, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena.
    7. K. Peren Arin & Umair Khalil & Deni Mazrekaj & Marcel Thum, 2023. "Terrorism and Misperceptions: Evidence from Europe," CESifo Working Paper Series 10476, CESifo.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Immigration attitudes; Biased perceptions; Belief updating; Welfare state; Labor market; Causal forest;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C90 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - General
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • H20 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - General
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination

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