Immigration and election outcomes — Evidence from city districts in Hamburg

Alkis Otto and Max Steinhardt ()

Regional Science and Urban Economics, 2014, vol. 45, issue C, 67-79

Abstract: This paper provides new evidence on the effect of immigration on local 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 non-economic determinants and welfare state considerations are important in shaping individual attitudes towards immigration.

Keywords: Immigration; Political economy; Elections; City districts (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D72 J15 J61 R23 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (174)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Immigration and election outcomes: Evidence from city districts in Hamburg (2012)
Working Paper: Immigration and election outcomes: Evidence from city districts in Hamburg (2012)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:regeco:v:45:y:2014:i:c:p:67-79

DOI: 10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2014.01.004

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