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The impact of natives’ attitudes on refugee integration

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  • Schilling, Pia
  • Stillman, Steven

Abstract

Exploiting the random allocation of asylum seekers to different locations in Germany, we study the impact of native attitudes, proxied by voting behaviors, on refugees’ integration. We find that in municipalities with more voting for the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) political party, refugees have worse social integration. These impacts are largest for groups targeted by AfD campaigns. Refugees are also more likely to suffer from harassment and right-wing attacks in areas with greater AfD support. Positive interactions with locals are also less likely and negative opinions about immigration spillover to supporters of other parties in these areas. On the other hand, stronger support for pro-immigrant parties enhances social integration.

Suggested Citation

  • Schilling, Pia & Stillman, Steven, 2024. "The impact of natives’ attitudes on refugee integration," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:labeco:v:87:y:2024:i:c:s0927537123001409
    DOI: 10.1016/j.labeco.2023.102465
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    5. Tassi, Annalisa, 2024. "Do community needs affect the decision to volunteer? The case of refugees in Germany," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).
    6. Hiroyuki Matsuyama & Chigusa Okamoto & Yasuhiro Sato, 2024. "Social integration of Immigrants in Cities: Theory and Evidence from The European Social Survey," CIRJE F-Series CIRJE-F-1236, CIRJE, Faculty of Economics, University of Tokyo.
    7. Glitz, Albrecht & Rapoport, Hillel, 2024. "Introduction to the Labour Economics special issue on immigration economics," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    8. Sarah Langlotz & Johannes Matzat & Axel Dreher & Christopher Parsons, 2026. "Political Ideologies, Redistribution and Local (Mis-)Perceptions of Migrant Stocks and Flows," CESifo Working Paper Series 12390, CESifo.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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