The Financial Crisis and Anti-Immigration Sentiment in Europe

Immigration is a hotly debated issue throughout the EU. Using data from the 2009 European Election Study, conducted at the peak of the global financial crisis, we put existing economic and cultural theories on public opinion towards immigration to the test. We find little evidence that economic factors have an influence on attitudes about immigration. Rather a lack of tolerance for cultural diversity and euroskepticism appear to be the main determinants of support for placing restrictions on immigration. These findings challenge our understanding of what drives public attitudes on immigration and has implications for debates about how public officials should respond to public opinion on this issue.