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Journal of Economic Literature Vol. 62 No. 1 2024

The Political Effects of Immigration: Culture or Economics?

Alberto Alesina1; Marco Tabellini2

1 the late Alesina was with Harvard University, CEPR, and NBER. · 2 Harvard Business School, NBER, CEPR, and IZA.

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 noneconomic forces. In examining the mechanisms, we highlight important mediating factors, such as misperceptions, the media, and the conditions under which intergroup contact occurs. We also outline promising avenues for future research.

DOI
10.1257/jel.20221643
Volume
62
Issue
1
Pages
5-46
Language
en
Sources
bibtex:phds-export.bib openalex crossref

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