Svekker innvandring oppslutningen om velferdsstaten?

Abstract

The fact that the most advanced welfare states have relatively homogeneous populations has led to the assumption that immigration, and an associated growing diversity in the population, will weaken the support necessary for upholding extensive welfare programmes. In the article, we combine survey and census data in studying the importance of the presence of immigrants in the local community for individuals' attitudes to redistributive policies in Norway. The analysis does reveal an effect, but one that is far weaker than the literature gives us reason to expect. The limited impact of the proportion of immigrants on welfare state attitudes is in the form of a direct effect. Hypotheses predicting that the immigrant share of the population will influence the support for a strong and active state, trust in other individuals and political institutions, or the perception of immigrants, so that these variables transmit a negative indirect effect on the backing of welfare programmes, are not confirmed. As it turns out, negative attitudes towards immigrants are less common the larger their share of the local population, particularly when their presence has been of some permanence, indicating that exposure can produce familiarity and acceptance. © UNIVERSITETSFORLAGET TIDSSKRIFT FOR SAMFUNNSFORSKNING.