Immigration, Immigration-Related Concerns, and Welfare Support in Europe

The chapter analyzes the effect of immigration on program-specific welfare support among ten European countries. The findings indicate that as far as individual attitudes are concerned the pattern found in the US recurs in Europe. In line with the New Progressive Dilemma (NPD) literature, there is indeed much evidence that immigration has lowered support for at least some welfare programs—and especially for those that disproportionally benefit foreign-born citizens. There is also considerable evidence of anti-immigrant sentiments among Europeans, who would be willing to support policies of welfare chauvinism. Furthermore, the impact of immigration on general welfare support appears to be dependent on the program’s degree of middle-class involvement with universal programs generating far less conflict than targeted ones.