Attitudes towards Immigrants, Other Integration Barriers, and Their Veracity

Amelie Constant, Martin Kahanec and Klaus Zimmermann ()

No 3650, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: The paper studies opinions and attitudes towards immigrants and minorities and their interactions with other barriers to minorities’ economic integration. Specifically, we consider the minority experts’ own perceptions about these issues, the veracities and repercussions of unfavorable attitudes of natives. Employing newly available data from the IZA Expert Opinion Survey 2007 we depict main trends in the integration situation of ethnic minorities in Europe in a comparative manner. Using a unique dataset, this innovative study is the first to gauge the perspectives of expert stakeholders and ethnic minorities on their integration situation and the main barriers that hinder it. Robust findings show that ethnic minorities: face integration problems; natives’ general negative attitudes are a key factor of their challenging situation; discrimination is acknowledged as the single most important integration barrier; low education and self-confidence as well as cultural differences also hinder integration; minorities want change and that it come about by policies based on the principle of equal treatment. Well designed integration policies that take the specific situation of the respective ethnic minority into account, are persistent and enforce anti-discrimination laws are desirable.

Keywords: immigrants; ethnic minorities; opinions; attitudes; labor market (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J15 J71 J78 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 14 pages
Date: 2008-08
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

Published - published in: International Journal of Manpower, 2009, 30 (1-2), 5-14

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Related works:
Journal Article: Attitudes towards immigrants, other integration barriers, and their veracity (2009)
Journal Article: Attitudes Towards Immigrants, Other Integration Barriers, and Their Veracity (2009)
Working Paper: Attitudes Towards Immigrants, Other Integration Barriers, and Their Veracity (2008)
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