Regional Labor Markets, Residential Mobility, and Anti-Immigration Sentiment

Bibliographic Data

ID6227751
AuthorsDenis Cohen (0000-0002-8978-8249, University of Mannheim, corresponding author), Sergi Pardos‐prado (0000-0002-6944-326X, University of Glasgow)
Year2025
Volume55
Publication date2025-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBritish Journal of Political Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0007-1234 • E-ISSN: 1469-2112
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0007123425101038
OpenAlexW7104555268
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited47

Since the turn of the twenty-first century, subnational regions have become increasingly polarized with regard to anti-immigration attitudes. However, the reasons behind geographical changes over time are unclear. We argue that regional labor market risks are a key and overlooked factor driving residential choices and subsequent attitudinal change. We rely on georeferenced panel data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP) in combination with rich regional labor market data from the German microcensus. Our findings confirm that prospects of economic risk reduction drive moving decisions and subsequently reduce anti-immigration sentiment, especially among workers with transferable skills. This has decisive macro-level implications: regions receiving a large share of risk-reducing movers over time show lower levels of anti-immigration sentiment. Our contribution implies that economic motivations matter for residential choices beyond cultural sorting, individual attitudes adjust to the conditions of destination, and geographical patterns are mostly driven by booming regions becoming ever more liberal

Georeference · German · Key (lock · Panel data · West germany · Migration and Labor Dynamics · Regional Economics and Spatial Analysis · Urban, Neighborhood, and Segregation Studies

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