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Identity- versus effort-based bureaucratic discrimination among mobile European Union citizens: Evidence from
Jana Gómez Díaz1, Eva Thomann, Anita Manatschal2
1Department of Politics and Public Administration, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.
European Union Politics
|June 1, 2026
Summary
Bureaucratic discrimination against EU citizens is influenced more by perceived integration efforts than nationality. Administrators favored French over Bulgarian applicants, especially when the former showed stronger signs of trying to integrate into the host country.
Area of Science:
- Social Sciences
- Political Science
- Sociology
Background:
- Mobile European Union (EU) citizens face administrative hurdles impacting social rights due to discrimination by welfare bureaucrats.
- The specific factors driving this discrimination, such as applicant identity versus perceived effort, remain understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how nationality and perceived effort influence bureaucratic discrimination against EU citizens.
- To combine theories of discrimination and behavioral economics to understand these dynamics.
Main Methods:
- A choice-based conjoint survey experiment was conducted.
- 2403 bureaucrats from Switzerland, Denmark, Ireland, and Spain participated.
- Participants evaluated fictional information requests from French and Bulgarian citizens.
Main Results:
- Bureaucrats exhibited preferential treatment towards French citizens over Bulgarian citizens.
- This bias was more pronounced among administrators with anti-migration and right-wing political attitudes.
- Discrimination was strongest when applicants demonstrated clear integration efforts (e.g., language fluency, job seeking).
Conclusions:
- Bureaucratic discrimination is significantly shaped by the perceived actions and integration efforts of EU citizens, rather than solely their national identity.
- Understanding these behavioral aspects is crucial for addressing discrimination and ensuring social rights for mobile EU citizens.
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