Inclusive Redistribution and Perceptions of Membership: A Cross-National Comparison.

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Political Science
• Sociology

Background:

• Public opinion often favors native-born citizens over immigrants for welfare benefits.
• Existing research suggests a link between redistribution support and perceptions of immigrant "membership commitment".

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically test the hypothesis that perceived "membership commitment" influences public support for immigrant welfare benefits.
• To examine the impact of this perceived commitment on welfare state support in a comparative context.

Main Methods:

• An original seven-country survey conducted in 2021-2022.
• Exploration of public perceptions of immigrants' membership commitment in host societies.
• Analysis of the effect of these perceptions on support for extending social benefits to immigrants.

Main Results:

• Immigrants consistently experience a "membership penalty" across diverse liberal democracies.
• This penalty is evident in various citizenship and welfare regimes.
• The findings have significant implications for the inclusivity of welfare states.

Conclusions:

• Perceptions of immigrants' membership commitment significantly disadvantage them in accessing welfare benefits.
• The "membership penalty" is a widespread phenomenon affecting welfare state support.
• Addressing this penalty is crucial for developing more inclusive social policies.