Welfare Spending and the Public's Concern for Immigrants: Multilevel Evidence for Eighteen European Countries

• DOI: 10.5129/001041507x12911361134433
• Publication Date: 2011-06-30T17:38:24Z
• Authors: Wim van Oorschot; Wilfred Uunk
• Keywords: Public spending

There is a large body of empirical evidence showing that negative images immigrants and the related subtle sometimes blatant prejudice against them are widespread among populations European countries.1 Yet studies in this field only occasional ly investigate public immigrants' deservingness to receive welfare rights, income benefits, social services.2 This situation remarkable since many coun tries overrepresented users unemployment compensation, assistance, family benefits number Europe has increased substantially past few decades.3 The influx relatively high use may even undermine overall legitimacy comprehen sive systems countries they fragment sense common community allegedly underlies comprehensive states.4 In particular, American scholars who draw parallel with have issued strong warnings respect. Their arguments differ somewhat, but main thrust cul tural diversity effect on comprehensiveness generosity systems, especially if associated subordinate minority.5 states be more threatened their benefit act as magnets attract ever increasing numbers migrants.6 It there fore not surprising debate challenges model migrants tensions regarding distribution legit imacy state come figure prominently agenda.7 article addresses relationship between attitudes immi grants, specifically nation's spending concern for vis-a-vis other needy groups. central question whether population compre hensive, high-spending less or tolerant than pop ulation low-spending and, so, why. Notions from economic self-interest cultural ideology theory immigration rates used advance two competing hypotheses spending. On one hand, higher might foster favorable towards because