Work

Tolerant or segregated? Immigration and electoral outcomes in urban areas

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: Despite recent research evidence that an increased share of immigrants in an area causes an increase in anti-immigrant-party votes, the electoral impact of exposure to immigration appears virtually non-existent—or even contrary—in urban areas. This study thus reassesses the latter using disaggregated data for Milan, Italy's second-largest city. The spatial scale of the analysis addresses the possible bias from aggregating neighbourhoods that are experiencing different immigration inflows. Using a sharp measure of anti-immigration vote and a new instrumental variable to address the possible endogeneity of immigrant share, I find that exposure to immigration has a positive effect on anti-immigration-party votes even in urban contexts. These results are of possible major interest to moderate political forces and European institutions and could usefully guide policy-makers in designing immigrant location policies.

Source: Papers of the Regional Science Association

DOI: 10.1111/pirs.12582

Author: Carlo Devillanova

Institutions: Fondazione Roberto Franceschi, Bocconi University

Language: English

Topic: Migration, Refugees, and Integration

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Sustainable cities and communities, Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,000