Boundaries of Solidarity: Immigrants, Economic Contributions, and Welfare Attitudes

2022/04/11 by Gabriele Magni · 1 citation
Social Sciences · #Migration, Refugees, and Integration #Migration and Labor Dynamics #Social Policy and Reform Studies #Immigration #Solidarity #Reciprocity (cultural anthropology) #Welfare #Politics #Welfare state #Demographic economics #Cleavage (geology) #Political science #Sociology #Economics #Law #Social science

paper · doi:10.1111/ajps.12707

openalex publication_date 2022/04/11 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/15

Abstract

Abstract In the politics of welfare, citizens often prioritize natives over immigrants. What conditions reduce welfare discrimination against immigrants? Original survey experiments from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy reveal that the divide between natives and immigrants remains the fundamental cleavage in the politics of welfare. All immigrants face welfare penalties, including immigrants from Western countries. Even young, progressive, highly educated, and economically secure native citizens strongly penalize immigrants. Although immigrants never fully overcome identity barriers, the welfare support gap between natives and immigrants decreases when immigrants have a long work history. A history of employment provides evidence of reciprocity through past contributions and signals immigrants’ commitment to the community. Other immigrants’ characteristics, such as higher education and proactive work attitude, fail to decrease the gap. This article contributes to the study of solidarity in diverse societies and the impact of immigration on the welfare state.

Citations

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Cited by

• Opposition to immigration [wikipedia]