The effect of exposure to ethnic minorities on ethnic preferences

Pacal Achard , CREST - Center for Research in Economics and Statistics, Palaiseau Cedex
Sabina Albrecht, University of Queensland
Riccardo Ghidoni, Uni Bologna
Elena Cettolin, Tilburg University
Sigrid Suetens, Tilburg

We investigate the effect of exposure to ethnic minorities on the majority’s preferences with regard to that group. To do so, we exploit novel individual-level panel data on attitudes toward ethnic diversity and political preferences combined with detailed administrative data on refugee facilities in the Netherlands. The study period is marked by a sudden inflow of refugees in some neighborhoods. Using fixed-effects regressions, we find that individuals living close to refugee facilities developed a more positive attitude toward ethnic minorities and became less inclined to vote for anti-immigration parties. Preferences of individuals living farther away remained largely unchanged. An investigation of possible channels suggests that the local effect is due to contact between residents and refugees.

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 Presented in Session 4. Migrant Populations: attitudes and contextual factors