Abstract
Summary First, we spell out a political-economy model, based on segmented labor markets, which explains why a guest-worker system is preferred to a non-discriminatory immigration regime and why measures to improve the integration of low-skill immigrants tend to be opposed subsequently. The model also predicts that attitudes towards the integration of immigrants are positively related to education. Second, we examine the empirical evidence on attitudes towards the integration of immigrants. Our findings from Swiss data are consistent with the prediction of the theoretical model. Both economic and non-economic factors seem to matter in the positive relationship between attitudes and education.
Highlights
In several European countries, the integration of immigrants into the host country’s economy and society ranks high on the political agenda
If attitudes towards the integration of immigrants are to be explained in a meaningful way, the underlying model should account for the fact that immigration policies of the “guest-worker” type were implemented in the first place
We develop a political-economy model explaining why natives tend to oppose the integration of immigrants in the labor market if the country had adopted a guest-worker system in the past
Summary
In several European countries, the integration of immigrants into the host country’s economy and society ranks high on the political agenda. From the perspective of immigrants, there is the perception that they do not have equal access to well-paid jobs in the host country Such hiring discrimination has been documented by field studies in Germany (Goldberg, Mourinho and Kulke, 1996; Kaas and Manger, 2010) and Switzerland (Fibbi, Lerch and Wanner, 2006). Substantial opposition arose against the free movement of persons which is part of the bilateral agreements between Switzerland and the European Union.2 Starting from these observations, our paper analyzes the attitudes of natives towards the integration of immigrants in the labor market. We address the question why natives often oppose measures that would give low-skill immigrants a better access to well-paid jobs in the host country.
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