Immigration and election outcomes: Evidence from city districts in Hamburg

Alkis Otto and Max Steinhardt ()

No 122, HWWI Research Papers from Hamburg Institute of International Economics (HWWI)

Abstract: This paper provides new evidence on the effect of immigration on election outcomes. Our analysis makes use of data on city districts in Hamburg, Germany, during a period of substantial inflows of immigrants and asylum seekers. We find significant and robust effects for changes in foreigner shares on the electoral success of parties that built up a distinctive reputation in immigration politics. In particular, our fixed-effects estimates indicate a positive effect for xenophobic, extreme right-wing parties and an adverse effect for the Green party that actively campaigned for liberal immigration policies and minority rights. Overall, our results support the hypothesis that changes in local compositional amenities shape individual attitudes towards immigration.

Keywords: immigration; elections; xenophobia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D72 J15 R23 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cdm, nep-hme, nep-mig and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (37)

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https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/57920/1/715302450.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: Immigration and election outcomes — Evidence from city districts in Hamburg (2014)
Working Paper: Immigration and election outcomes: Evidence from city districts in Hamburg (2012)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:hwwirp:122

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