Immigration and the welfare state

Researchers have long contended that immigration undermines public support for welfare state policies. Purportedly, the native born lack solidarity with immigrants, so they are less supportive of welfare benefits when immigration is high. David Brady and Ryan Finnigan reviewed this argument. Using 1996 and 2006 International Social Survey Program (ISSP) data for 17 affluent democracies—including Western European countries, the United States, Canada, and Australia—they analyzed public attitudes regarding retirement and unemployment benefits. They find some evidence that immigration reduces support for public employment, but the most important finding in their study is that immigration does not fundamentally undermine public support for social policies.

A strong influx of immigrants can even be shown to have positive effects on welfare attitudes. Ultimately, the study demonstrates that factors other than immigration are far more important for public support of social policy. The article was published in the American Sociological Review.

David Brady/Ryan Finnigan: „Does Immigration Undermine Public Support for Social Policy?“. In: American Sociological Review, 2014, Vol. 79, No. 1, pp. 17-42.

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To the research unit Inequality and Social Policy