The Role of Information Provision for Attitudes Towards Immigration: An Experimental Investigation

36 Pages Posted: 20 Oct 2020

See all articles by Patrick Dylong

Patrick Dylong

Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena

Silke Uebelmesser

Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena - School of Economics and Business Administration; CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute)

Date Written: 2020

Abstract

We conduct a survey experiment on the effect of information provision on attitudes towards immigration in Germany. The focus lies on two theory-based economic channels, labor market and welfare state concerns, and immigration policy preferences. Using probability-based representative survey data, we experimentally vary the quantity and the type of information provided to respondents. We find that a bundle of information on both the share and the unemployment rate of foreigners robustly decreases welfare state concerns about immigration. There are slightly less pronounced effects on the labor market and policy channels. Further data-driven analyses reveal heterogeneity in treatment effects. Our findings therefore suggest that careful composition and targeting of information interventions can increase their effectiveness in the public debate on immigration.

Keywords: immigration attitudes, survey experiment, information provision, belief updating, welfare state, labor market, machine learning

JEL Classification: C900, D830, F220, J150

Suggested Citation

Dylong, Patrick and Uebelmesser, Silke, The Role of Information Provision for Attitudes Towards Immigration: An Experimental Investigation (2020). CESifo Working Paper No. 8635, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3715288 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3715288

Patrick Dylong (Contact Author)

Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena

Carl-Zeiss-Str. 3
Jena, 07743
Germany

Silke Uebelmesser

Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena - School of Economics and Business Administration ( email )

Carl-Zeiss-Str. 3
D-07743 Jena
Germany

CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute) ( email )

Poschinger Str. 5
Munich, DE-81679
Germany

HOME PAGE: http://www.CESifo.de

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