Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/295630 
Year of Publication: 
2020
Series/Report no.: 
CReAM Discussion Paper Series No. 21/20
Publisher: 
Centre for Research & Analysis of Migration (CReAM), Department of Economics, University College London, London
Abstract: 
The way we collectively discuss migration shapes citizens' perceptions of migrants and their influence on our society. This paper investigates whether a narrative about the positive impact of immigrants on the hosting economy affects natives' behaviour towards migrants. To shed light on the underlying mechanism, we present a simple theoretical framework that models the relationship between beliefs, attitude and behaviour and identifies the sequential channels through which a narrative might be useful in changing attitude and behaviour. We test its predictions through an online survey experiment, where we deliver UK natives a favourable narrative about migrants. Treated subjects revise their beliefs about migrants and exhibit significantly more positive self-reported attitudes and more pro-migrant behaviour. Moreover, they update beliefs in a way that gives support to the existence of confirmation bias.
Subjects: 
Immigration
Survey experiment
Narrative
Attitudes
Beliefs
JEL: 
C90
D83
F22
J15
Z15
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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