IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/joimai/v26y2025i1d10.1007_s12134-024-01197-y.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Crime Victimization, Immigrants, and Public Opinion in Ghana: A Micro-level Analysis

Author

Listed:
  • Michael K. Dzordzormenyoh

    (Kent State University)

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of crime victimization and nationalism on public attitudes towards immigrants in Ghana. Using a nationally representative sample of 2,400 Ghanaians collected between 2016 and 2018, this study examined the effects of theft, physical assault, armed robbery, and nationalism on public acceptance and willingness to coexist with immigrants. The findings indicate that crime victimization has a limited influence on the public acceptance of immigrants in Ghana, while a positive correlation is observed between nationalism, defined as a strong attachment to Ghana, and acceptance of immigrants. Moreover, a positive correlation was observed between nationalism, defined as a strong attachment to Ghana, and acceptance of immigrants. The study also finds evidence supporting the demographic hypothesis, suggesting that the demographic factors of the general public affect the perceptions of immigrants. The significance of this study lies in its contribution to the limited empirical research on public attitudes towards immigrants in Ghana and the broader literature on this topic from a global-south perspective. The findings can inform the development of practical immigration policies that promote Ghana as a migrant-friendly nation, while safeguarding the interests of its citizens. This study highlights the need for further investigation into the relationship between crime, victimization, and immigration in Ghana and other African countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael K. Dzordzormenyoh, 2025. "Crime Victimization, Immigrants, and Public Opinion in Ghana: A Micro-level Analysis," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 26(1), pages 491-511, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joimai:v:26:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s12134-024-01197-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s12134-024-01197-y
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s12134-024-01197-y
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s12134-024-01197-y?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Andrew E. Clark & Conchita D’ambrosio & Rong Zhu, 2019. "Crime Victimisation Over Time and Sleep Quality," PSE Working Papers halshs-01976867, HAL.
    2. Carlos Vargas‐Silva, 2009. "The Tale of Three Amigos: Remittances, Exchange Rates, and Money Demand in Mexico," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, February.
    3. Cheng, Zhiming & Smyth, Russell, 2015. "Crime victimization, neighborhood safety and happiness in China," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 424-435.
    4. Braakmann, Nils, 2012. "How do individuals deal with victimization and victimization risk? Longitudinal evidence from Mexico," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 84(1), pages 335-344.
    5. Victoria M. Esses & Alina Sutter & Joanie Bouchard & Kate H. Choi & Patrick Denice, 2021. "North American Attitudes toward Immigrants and Immigration in the Time of COVID-19: The Role of National Attachment and Threat," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 697(1), pages 148-173, September.
    6. Higgins, George E. & Gabbidon, Shaun L. & Martin, Favian, 2010. "The role of race/ethnicity and race relations on public opinion related to the immigration and crime link," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 51-56, January.
    7. Appiahene-Gyamfi, Joseph, 1998. "Violent crime in ghana: The case of robbery," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 26(5), pages 409-424, September.
    8. Michael Kwame Dzordzormenyoh & Deion Perkins, 2022. "Immigration in the United States: Exploring the Factors that Predict Public Support for Police Stops Targeted at Illegal Immigrants & Immigrants with Criminal Background," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 1545-1566, September.
    9. Francis D. Boateng & Wesley S. McCann & Joselyne L. Chenane & Daniel K. Pryce, 2021. "Perception of Immigrants in Europe: A Multilevel Assessment of Macrolevel Conditions," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 102(1), pages 209-227, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Leonid Zhizhin & Alex Knorre & Ruslan Kuchakov & Dmitriy Skougarevskiy, 2023. "Cost of crime in Russia: A compensating variation approach," Applied Econometrics, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), vol. 69, pages 91-120.
    2. Awaworyi Churchill, Sefa & Asante, Augustine, 2023. "Neighbourhood crime and obesity: Longitudinal evidence from Australia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 337(C).
    3. Alloush, Mo & Bloem, Jeffrey R., 2022. "Neighborhood violence, poverty, and psychological well-being," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    4. Abdoul’ Ganiou Mijiyawa & Djoulassi K. Oloufade, 2023. "Effect of Remittance Inflows on External Debt in Developing Countries," Open Economies Review, Springer, vol. 34(2), pages 437-470, April.
    5. Timo Baas & Silvia Maja Melzer, 2012. "The Macroeconomic Impact of Remittances: A sending country perspective," Norface Discussion Paper Series 2012021, Norface Research Programme on Migration, Department of Economics, University College London.
    6. Anton Pak & Brenda Gannon, 2023. "The effect of neighbourhood and spatial crime rates on mental wellbeing," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 64(1), pages 99-134, January.
    7. Khaled Chnaina & Farid Makhlouf, 2015. "Impact des Transferts de Fonds sur le Taux de Change Réel Effectif en Tunisie," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 27(2), pages 145-160, June.
    8. Sena Kimm Gnangnon, 2019. "Remittances Inflows and Trade Policy," Remittances Review, Remittances Review, vol. 4(2), pages 117-142, October.
    9. Franklin Obeng-Odoom, 2011. "The Informal Sector in Ghana under Siege," Journal of Developing Societies, , vol. 27(3-4), pages 355-392, September.
    10. Briggs Depew & Isaac D. Swensen, 2019. "The Decision to Carry: The Effect of Crime on Concealed-Carry Applications," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 54(4), pages 1121-1153.
    11. Melek Cigdem-Bayram & David Prentice, 2018. "Responding to high crime rates: what is the mix of prevention, insurance and mitigation individuals choose and its results?," Technical papers 201803, Infrastructure Victoria.
    12. Anna Bindler & Nadine Ketel, 2022. "Scaring or Scarring? Labor Market Effects of Criminal Victimization," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 40(4), pages 939-970.
    13. Janke, K. & Propper, C. & Shields, M.A., 2013. "Does Violent Crime Deter Physical Activity?," Health, Econometrics and Data Group (HEDG) Working Papers 13/26, HEDG, c/o Department of Economics, University of York.
    14. George Mavrotas & Syed Mansoob Murshed & Sebastian Torres, 2011. "Natural Resource Dependence and Economic Performance in the 1970–2000 Period," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 15(1), pages 124-138, February.
    15. Martinique Cordeiro & Prudence Kwenda & Miracle Ntuli, 2020. "Crime and Life Satisfaction: Evidence from South Africa - Gauteng Province," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 15(3), pages 715-736, July.
    16. Nekeisha Spencer & Zhonghui Liu, 2019. "Victimization and Life Satisfaction: Evidence from a High Crime Country," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 144(1), pages 475-495, July.
    17. Andrew E. Clark & Conchita D'Ambrosio & Rong Zhu, 2021. "Living in the Shadow of the Past: Financial Profiles and Well‐Being," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 123(3), pages 910-939, July.
    18. Garcia-Jimenez, Carlos I. & Mishra, Ashok K., "undated". "The Effects of Public Debt on Labor Demand in the United States," 2010 Annual Meeting, February 6-9, 2010, Orlando, Florida 56361, Southern Agricultural Economics Association.
    19. Adinkrah, Mensah, 2005. "Vigilante homicides in contemporary Ghana," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 33(5), pages 413-427.
    20. Michael Kwame Dzordzormenyoh & Deion Perkins, 2022. "Immigration in the United States: Exploring the Factors that Predict Public Support for Police Stops Targeted at Illegal Immigrants & Immigrants with Criminal Background," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 23(3), pages 1545-1566, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:joimai:v:26:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s12134-024-01197-y. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.