Individual Attitudes Towards Skilled Migration: An Empirical Analysis Across Countries

16 Pages Posted: 4 Jun 2010

See all articles by Anna Maria Mayda

Anna Maria Mayda

Georgetown University - Department of Economics; IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Giovanni Facchini

University of Milan - Centro Studi Luca d'Agliano (LdA)

Date Written: November 2009

Abstract

It is commonly argued that skilled immigration benefits the destination country through several channels. Yet, only a small group of countries reports to have policies in place aimed at increasing the intake of skilled immigrants. Why? In this paper we analyze the factors that affect a direct measure of individual attitudes towards skilled migration, focusing on two main channels: the labor market and the welfare state. We find that more educated natives are less likely to favor skilled immigration – consistent with the labor-market channel – while richer people are more likely to do so – in accordance with the welfare state channel under the tax adjustment model. Our findings thus suggest that the labor market competition threat perceived by skilled natives in the host countries might be driving the observed cautious policies.

Keywords: Skilled Immigration, Attitudes, Immigration Policy, Political Economy

JEL Classification: F22, J61

Suggested Citation

Mayda, Anna Maria and Facchini, Giovanni, Individual Attitudes Towards Skilled Migration: An Empirical Analysis Across Countries (November 2009). Centro Studi Luca d'Agliano Development Studies Working Paper No. 281, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1619814 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1619814

Anna Maria Mayda

Georgetown University - Department of Economics ( email )

Washington, DC 20057
United States

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

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

Giovanni Facchini (Contact Author)

University of Milan - Centro Studi Luca d'Agliano (LdA) ( email )

Via P. Amedeo 34
Milano, 20122
Italy

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