Migration and welfare state spending

Abstract

Is international migration a threat to the redistributive programmes of destination countries? Existing work is divided. This paper examines the manner and extent to which increases in immigration are related to welfare state retrenchment, drawing on data from 1970 to 2007. The paper makes three contributions: (1) it explores the impact of changes in immigration on social welfare policy over both the short and medium term; (2) it examines the possibility that immigration matters for spending not just directly, but indirectly, through changes in demographics and/or the labour force; and (3) by disaggregating data on social expenditure into subdomains (including unemployment, pensions, and the like), it tests the impact of immigration on different elements of the welfare state. Results suggest that increased immigration is indeed associated with smaller increases in spending. The major pathway is through impact on female labour force participation. The policy domains most affected are ones subject to moral hazard, or at least to rhetoric about moral hazard.

Retracted: The heterogeneous effect of diversity: Ascriptive identities, class and redistribution in developed democracies

“…The majority of work done on the latter emphasises two, often overlapping, implications, both of which paint only part of the picture (e.g., Alt & Iversen 2017;Brady & Finnigan 2014;Burgoon 2014;Finseraas 2012;Stichnoth 2012). Accordingly, while there are signs of a gradual decline in social spending due to sustained immigration (Soroka et al 2016), the majority of empirical findings concentrate on immigrant-specific policies such as tighter immigration rules, revised integration policies and stricter immigrant access to welfare programmes (Hemerijck et al 2013;Koning & Banting 2013;Sainsbury 2012). Yet, public preferences on redistribution are measured broadly and tell us little about actual policy outcomes.…”

“…New immigrants integrate slowly, do not automatically constitute a coherent political constituency and face unique barriers to full political and economic rights, parliamentary representation and access to state services (Bird et al 2011;Dancygier 2010;Dancygier et al 2015;Michon & Vermeulen 2013). Accordingly, while there are signs of a gradual decline in social spending due to sustained immigration (Soroka et al 2016), the majority of empirical findings concentrate on immigrant-specific policies such as tighter immigration rules, revised integration policies and stricter immigrant access to welfare programmes (Hemerijck et al 2013;Koning & Banting 2013;Sainsbury 2012). Existing theoretical and empirical accounts of the relationship between ascriptive diversity writ large and redistributive outcomes remain incomplete.…”

Race, prejudice and attitudes toward redistribution: A comparative experimental approach

“…Recent work points to the racialisation of welfare in the Canadian context ) and in Europe (Wright & Reeskens 2013;Ford 2006Ford , 2015. This complements a longstanding body of work on welfare-chauvinistic parties in Western Europe (e.g., Freeman 2009;Van Der Wall et al 2013) and growing literatures on the tension between diversity and support for the welfare state as well (for recent reviews, see Nannestad 2007;Stichnoth & Straeten 2013;Soroka et al 2015; though also see Evans 2006). Much of this work points to the generalisability of what is sometimes viewed as a distinctive American story.…”

“…The comparative literature -across policy domains and across countries -has remained relatively silent on the role of racial attitudes in support for social welfare policies. 1 Much of the comparative European literature on the welfare state focuses on the impact of immigration and ethnic diversity on support for the welfare state (for recent reviews, see Nannestad 2007;Sticknoth & Straeten 2013;Soroka et al 2015). For example, Crepaz (2007) argues that population homogeneity allowed for the development of generous European welfare states because intergroup competition for resources was less likely when shared ethnic identity overlapped national identity.…”

“…) and growing literatures on the tension between diversity and support for the welfare state as well (for recent reviews, see Nannestad ; Stichnoth & Straeten ; Soroka et al. ; though also see Evans ). Much of this work points to the generalisability of what is sometimes viewed as a distinctive American story.…”