Hostility Toward Immigration in Spain

52 Pages Posted: 21 Apr 2009

See all articles by Ferran Martinez i Coma

Ferran Martinez i Coma

Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas (CIDE)

Robert Duval Hernández

Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas (CIDE); IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Abstract

This paper provides new evidence regarding public opinion on immigration by studying the Spanish case, and by analyzing not only respondents' preferences regarding immigration levels, but also regarding admittance policies and the rights and benefits to grant to foreigners. In general, Spaniards support less immigration, and more selectivity based on skills and qualifications, but not reduced rights and benefits for immigrants. Skilled natives have more positive attitudes about immigration, in spite of the potential fiscal burden it implies for them. Respondents believing that immigration drops natives' wages tended to oppose immigration and endorse reducing the benefits and rights granted to immigrants. More negative attitudes were found among individuals who dislike other races, while the opposite was found for those valuing cultural diversity. Catholic respondents favor more restrictive admission policies, in particular ones based on cultural factors. Respondents in provinces with high immigration and a high proportion of Moroccans wanted lower levels of immigration, though having contact with immigrants reduces the negative attitudes toward them. Individuals overestimating the levels of immigration are more prone to have negative attitudes toward immigrants.

Keywords: international migration, immigration preferences

JEL Classification: F22, J61

Suggested Citation

Martinez i Coma, Ferran and Duval Hernández, Robert, Hostility Toward Immigration in Spain. IZA Discussion Paper No. 4109, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1391761 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1391761

Ferran Martinez i Coma (Contact Author)

Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas (CIDE) ( email )

Circuito Tecnopolo Norte 117
Col. Tecnopolo Pocitos II
Aguascalientes, 20313
Mexico

Robert Duval Hernández

Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas (CIDE) ( email )

Circuito Tecnopolo Norte 117
Col. Tecnopolo Pocitos II
Aguascalientes, 20313
Mexico

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

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