Economic Explanations for Opposition to Immigration: Distinguishing between Prevalence and Conditional Impact

• DOI: 10.1111/ajps.12012
• Publication Date: 2013-01-28T18:59:25Z
• Authors: Neil Malhotra; Yotam Margalit; Cecilia Hyunjung Mo
• Keywords: Opposition (politics); Variation (astronomy)

What explains variation in individuals’ opposition to immigration? While scholars have consistently shown cultural concerns be strong predictors of opposition, findings regarding the labor‐market competition hypothesis are highly contested. To help understand these divergent results, we distinguish between prevalence and conditional impact determinants immigration attitudes. Leveraging a targeted sampling strategy high‐technology counties, conduct study Americans’ attitudes toward H‐1B visas. The plurality visas occupied by Indian immigrants, who skilled but ethnically distinct, enabling us measure specific skill set (high technology) that is threatened particular type immigrant (H‐1B visa holders). Unlike recent aggregate studies, our approach reveals relationship sector economic threat sizable. However, not prevalent source therefore generally detected analyses.