Publications
Publications
- 2022
- HBS Working Paper Series
The Political Effects of Immigration: Culture or Economics?
By: Alberto Alesina and Marco Tabellini
Abstract
We review the growing literature on the political economy of immigration. First, we discuss the effects of immigration on a wide range of political and social outcomes. The existing evidence suggests that immigrants often, but not always, trigger backlash, increasing support for anti-immigrant parties and lowering preferences for redistribution and diversity among natives. Next, we unpack the channels behind the political effects of immigration, distinguishing between economic and non-economic forces. In examining the mechanisms, we highlight important mediating factors, such as misperceptions, the media, and the conditions under which inter-group contact occurs. We also outline promising avenues for future research.
Keywords
Citation
Alesina, Alberto, and Marco Tabellini. "The Political Effects of Immigration: Culture or Economics?" Harvard Business School Working Paper, No. 21-069, November 2020. (Revised May 2022. Accepted at the Journal of Economic Literature.)