Economic Well-being and Anti-Semitic, Xenophobic, and Racist Attitudes in Germany
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Abstract
The fear and hatred of others who are different has economic consequences because such feelings are likely to translate into discrimination in labor, credit, housing, and other markets. The implications range from earnings inequality to intergenerational mobility. Using German data from 1996 and 2006, we analyze the determinants of racist and xenophobic feelings towards foreigners in general, and against specific groups such as Italians, Turks, and Asylum Seekers. We also analyze racist and anti-Semitic feelings towards German citizens who differ in ethnicity (Aussiedler from Eastern Europe) or in religion (German Jews). Individuals’ perceived (or actual) economic well-being is negatively related to the strength of these feelings. Education, and having contact with foreigners mitigate racist, anti-Semitic and xenophobic feelings. People who live in states which had provided above-median support of the Nazi party in the 1928 elections have stronger anti-Semitic feelings today. The results are not gender-driven. They are not an artifact of economic conditions triggering feelings about job priority for German males, and they are not fully driven by fears about foreigners taking away jobs. The results of the paper are consistent with the model of Glaeser (Q J Econ 120(1):45–86, 2005) on hate, and with that of Akerlof and Kranton (Q J Econ 105(3):715–753, 2000; J Econ Perspect 19(1):9–32, 2005) on identity in the utility function.
Topics
Economy Class Antisemitism Main Topic: Antisemitism Statistics Surveys Antisemitism: Attitude Surveys
Genre
Geographic Coverage
Original Language
Volume/Issue
41
Page Number
1-63
DOI
Link
Link to article (paywalled), Economic Well-being and Anti-Semitic, Xenophobic, and Racist Attitudes in Germany
Bibliographic Information
Economic Well-being and Anti-Semitic, Xenophobic, and Racist Attitudes in Germany. 2016: 1-63. https://archive.jpr.org.uk/10.1007/s10657-015-9521-0
