Migration and welfare state solidarity in Western Europe

Abstract

In recent decades Western Europe has had to face increasing migration levels resulting in a more diverse population. As a direct consequence, the question of adequate inclusion of immigrants into the welfare state has arisen. At the same time it has been asked whether the inclusion of non-nationals or migrants into the welfare state may undermine the solidaristic basis and legitimacy of welfare state redistribution. Citizens who are in general positive about the welfare state may adopt a critical view if migrants are granted equal access. Using data from the European Social Survey (2002/2003) for European OECD Countries we examine the relationship between ethnic diversity and public social expenditure, welfare state support and attitudes towards immigrants among European citizens. The results indicate only weak negative correlations between ethnic diversity and public social expenditure levels. Multilevel regression models with support for the welfare state and attitudes towards the legal inclusion of immigrants as dependent variables in fact reveal a negative influence of ethnic diversity. However, when controlling for migration in combination with other contextual factors, especially GDP, the unemployment rate and welfare regime seem to have a mediating influence.

Three Worlds of Welfare Chauvinism? How Welfare Regimes Affect Support for Distributing Welfare to Immigrants in Europe

“…In the first place, studies of opinions related to the rather general question of whether immigrants should get the same rights as natives or citizens (Mau and Burkhardt 2009) and of views pertaining to the question of whether immigrants take away jobs and are a burden for the welfare state (Crepaz and Damron 2009) find similar patterns to those addressing views on the poor and the unemployed. Even though these studies do not focus on welfare chauvinism, 2 and although Mau and Burkhardt (2009) use a typology that differs from Esping-Andersen's, their results suggest that native populations in social-democratic welfare regimes take a more inclusive stance towards immigrants and are less concerned about "negative" labor-market and welfare effects of immigration than those in liberal ones.…”

Immigration Attitudes and Support for the Welfare State in the American Mass Public

“…Finally, there is some evidenceprimarily from Western European countries-that increased population diversity of the sort associated with greater immigration has the effect of changing how individuals think about welfare policies and the degree to which individuals support antipoverty and redistributive policies (Bay and Pedersen 2006;Eger 2010;Larsen 2011;Mau and Burkhardt 2009;Senik et al 2009). …”

The Paradox of Well-being: Do Unfavorable Socioeconomic and Sociocultural Contexts Deepen or Dampen Radical Left and Right Voting Among the Less Well-Off?

“…Similarly, studies of radical left voting have suggested different mediation effects-left-wing attitudes reduce the negative effects of socioeconomic position on support for radical left parties (Ramiro, 2016;Visser et al, 2014)-indicating that those who experience economic difficulties are likely to be in favor of welfare redistribution and are therefore prone to vote for the radical left. And it has long been shown that those with lower incomes and the unemployed are significantly more likely to be in favor of welfare redistribution (see Eger, 2010;Finseraas, 2009;Mau & Burkhardt, 2009).…”