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Economic Inequality, Immigrants and Selective Solidarity: From Perceived Lack of Opportunity to In-group Favoritism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 June 2020

Gabriele Magni Open the ORCID record for Gabriele Magni [Opens in a new window]
Gabriele Magni*
Affiliation:
Loyola Marymount University
*
*Corresponding author. E-mail: gabriele.magni@lmu.edu
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Abstract

How does economic inequality affect support for redistribution to native citizens and immigrants? While prior studies have examined the separate effects of inequality and immigration on redistribution preferences, the interaction between inequality and communal identity has been largely overlooked. This article explains that inequality triggers selective solidarity. Individuals exposed to inequality become more supportive of redistribution – but only if the redistribution benefits native-born citizens. Inequality therefore reinforces the already popular opinion that native citizens deserve welfare priority and widens the gap between support for natives and support for immigrants. This study first provides cross-national evidence with survey data linked to contextual socio-economic indicators from advanced industrialized countries. To evaluate causally identified effects, it then presents the results of a survey experiment administered to a nationally representative sample of Italian citizens. The findings imply that economic inequality can increase support for populist radical right parties that advocate discrimination in access to welfare services based on native citizenship.

Keywords

economic inequalitypreferences for redistributionwelfare attitudesin-group favoritismnativesimmigrants

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Article
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British Journal of Political Science , Volume 51 , Issue 4 , October 2021 , pp. 1357 - 1380
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Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2020

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