Saturday, March 15, 2014
Hampton (Omni Shoreham)
Much has been made of the potential impact of immigration on welfare states in Europe. But the opposite line of causality, from welfare state features to immigration policy choices, is less often explored. Welfare state features, along with different modes of labor market regulation, this paper argues, may affect choices in the area of immigration policy via a number of mechanisms. The generosity of welfare states, the manner of they are financed and the bases on which social rights are based in different countries may all affect social preferences and levels of opposition to immigration. Welfare states can also create implicit support for immigration not only for business but among broader segments of the electorate where they entail lacunae (in areas such care-regimes). Labor market features, such as segmented forms of employment protection may also reduce opposition and even create support for immigration. This paper explores several such linkages using a combination of time-series regression analysis and illustrative short country case descriptions.
