Hostility Toward Immigration in Spain

Ferran Martínez i Coma () and Robert Duval Hernández ()
Additional contact information
Ferran Martínez i Coma: CIDE, Mexico City
Robert Duval Hernández: Open University of Cyprus
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Robert Duval-Hernandez

No 4109, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: This paper provides new evidence regarding public opinion on immigration by studying the Spanish case, and by analyzing not only respondents' preferences regarding immigration levels, but also regarding admittance policies and the rights and benefits to grant to foreigners. In general, Spaniards support less immigration, and more selectivity based on skills and qualifications, but not reduced rights and benefits for immigrants. Skilled natives have more positive attitudes about immigration, in spite of the potential fiscal burden it implies for them. Respondents believing that immigration drops natives' wages tended to oppose immigration and endorse reducing the benefits and rights granted to immigrants. More negative attitudes were found among individuals who dislike other races, while the opposite was found for those valuing cultural diversity. Catholic respondents favor more restrictive admission policies, in particular ones based on cultural factors. Respondents in provinces with high immigration and a high proportion of Moroccans wanted lower levels of immigration, though having contact with immigrants reduces the negative attitudes toward them. Individuals overestimating the levels of immigration are more prone to have negative attitudes toward immigrants.

Keywords: immigration preferences; international migration (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F22 J61 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 52 pages
Date: 2009-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-lab and nep-mig
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Published - published in: Jorge Durand and Jorge A. Schiavon (eds.), Perspectivas migratorias: Un análisis interdisciplinario de la migración internacional, Mexico: CIDE, 2010.

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