Multilevel Analysis of Social and Policy Acceptance of Immigrants across European Countries and Its Implications for Comparative Policy

Abstract

With the influx of African and Middle Eastern refugees to Europe, the interest in immigrants has increased. This study analyzes how individual-level and country-level variables affect social and policy acceptance. It finds that personal ties and life satisfaction determine acceptance. Also, individual and contextual variables influence acceptance. Direction and significance of the predictor’s impact depends on each national context. Skilled labor (+), ideology (left, +), knowledge (+), government spending (–), and crime rate (–) only affect social acceptance whereas social contact (+), unemployment rate (–), party seats of left/socialist (+), and ethnic diversity (+) affect policy.