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Another brick in the wall. Immigration and electoral preferences: Direct evidence from state ballots
Author(s) -
Bargain Olivier,
Stephane Victor,
Valette Jérôme
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
review of international economics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.513
H-Index - 58
eISSN - 1467-9396
pISSN - 0965-7576
DOI - 10.1111/roie.12606
Subject(s) - immigration , ballot , redistribution (election) , demographic economics , politics , democracy , immigration policy , census , economic justice , economics , political science , political economy , public economics , law , voting , sociology , population , demography
We study the impact of immigration on electoral outcomes at the census tract level in California between 2010 and 2018. Information on actual ballot propositions is used to investigate immigrant‐related motives underlying a shift in political preferences. A rise in immigration is associated with a decrease in the support for Democratic candidates and measures. This effect is driven by policies pertaining to redistribution, public good provision, and justice/crime. It is stronger when immigrants are less assimilated and originate from poor and culturally distant countries.