Equal rights to move? Public attitudes towards the free movement of patients, students and workers in the EU

Sharon Baute, Marius R. Busemeyer and Gianna Maria Eick
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Sharon Baute: Department of Politics and Public Administration, 26567University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
Marius R. Busemeyer: Department of Politics and Public Administration, 26567University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
Gianna Maria Eick: Department of Political Science, 1234University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

European Union Politics, 2025, vol. 26, issue 3, 593-616

Abstract: While the free movement of people is one of the cornerstones of the European integration project, a pressing question remains whether public support depends on who is moving. Against the backdrop of increasing debates on the development of a European Health Union, this study focuses on the case of patient mobility and compares support levels to those of student and worker mobility rights. To this end, the study draws on an original survey conducted among 6000 respondents in Germany. The results reveal that patients are less supported than students and workers, both for incoming and outgoing mobility. We also find evidence of differentiated drivers of free movement attitudes, as a higher socio-economic status increases support for student and worker mobility but not for patient mobility.

Keywords: Free movement; European Union; healthcare; reciprocity; public opinion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:eeupol:v:26:y:2025:i:3:p:593-616

DOI: 10.1177/14651165251341570

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