How do high-skilled natives view high-skilled immigrants? A test of trade theory predictions

Trade theory suggests that natives with higher skills are more favourable to immigrants because immigrants, usually low-skilled, do not compete directly with them. What happens when immigrants are relatively high-skilled? Attitudes of respondents measured in the European Social Survey were examined. The coefficient between education and sentiment towards immigrants (while controlling for income and age) and its link with immigrant skill level of a country was assessed in a two-step analysis. No evidence to support trade theory predictions about high-skilled nationals' attitudes was found, probably because there are safeguards insulating high-skilled nationals from direct labour competition with high-skilled immigrants.

Research Highlights►The highly skilled more tolerant of immigration ►Trade theory: if immigrants are high-skilled, then high-skilled natives' tolerance declines ►Correlation in gap in views of low- and high-skilled natives, and immigrant skill assessed ►No cross-national survey evidence to support trade theory predictions found ►High-skilled nationals insulated from direct competition with immigrants