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Refugees, Right-Wing Populism and Propaganda: Evidence from the Italian Dispersal Policy

Author

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  • Francesco Campo
  • Sara Giunti
  • Mariapia Mendola

Abstract

This paper examines how the 2014-2017 ‘Refugee Crisis’ in Italy affected voting behavior and the rise of right–wing populism in national Parliamentary elections. We collect novel administrative data across all Italian municipalities and leverage exogenous variation in refugee resettlement induced by the Dispersal Policy. We find a positive and significant effect of the share of asylum seekers on support for radical-right anti-immigration parties. The effect is heterogeneous across municipality characteristics, yet robust to dispersal policy features. We provide causal evidence that the anti–immigration backlash is not rooted in adverse economic effects, while it is triggered by radical–right propaganda.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesco Campo & Sara Giunti & Mariapia Mendola, 2022. "Refugees, Right-Wing Populism and Propaganda: Evidence from the Italian Dispersal Policy," Working Papers 495, University of Milano-Bicocca, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:mib:wpaper:495
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    Keywords

    Immigration; Refugee Crisis; Voting Behavior; Dispersal Policy; Propaganda.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • P16 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Capitalist Economies - - - Capitalist Institutions; Welfare State

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