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  • 2023
  • Working Paper
  • HBS Working Paper Series

The Seeds of Ideology: Historical Immigration and Political Preferences in the United States

By: Paola Giuliano and Marco Tabellini
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:138
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Abstract

We study the long run effects of immigration on American political ideology. Exploiting cross-county variation in the presence of European immigrants between 1900 and 1930, we document that historical European immigration is associated with stronger preferences for redistribution and a more liberal ideology among Americans today. We show that this result is driven by immigrants with a longer exposure to social-welfare reforms in their countries of origin prior to emigration. Our evidence suggests that the vertical transmission of preferences within immigrant enclaves was complemented by horizontal socialization that promoted the spillover of ideology from immigrants to natives. This process was reinforced by immigrants' political incorporation in the Democratic voting bloc and by the election of legislators who were more likely to support pro-redistribution bills.

Keywords

Political Ideology; Preferences For Redistribution; Cultural Transmission; Immigration; History; Values and Beliefs; Welfare; United States

Citation

Giuliano, Paola, and Marco Tabellini. "The Seeds of Ideology: Historical Immigration and Political Preferences in the United States." Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 20-118, May 2020. (Revised January 2023. Available also from VOX, UCLA Anderson Review, Weekendavisen, Cato Institute, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER), and World Financial Review.)
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About The Author

Marco E. Tabellini

Business, Government and the International Economy
→More Publications

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More from the Authors
  • Racial Diversity and Racial Policy Preferences: The Great Migration and Civil Rights By: Alvaro Calderon, Vasiliki Fouka and Marco Tabellini
  • Hate Crime Towards Minoritized Groups Increases as They Increase in Sized-Based Rank By: Mina Cikara, Vasiliki Fouka and Marco Tabellini
  • The Impact of the Chinese Exclusion Act on the U.S. Economy By: Joe Long, Carlo Medici, Nancy Qian and Marco Tabellini
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