Political Consumer Gap between Foreign Residents and Swiss Citizens: The Explanatory Relationship of Political Resources and Citizenship Status

In most Western democracies, non-institutionalized political activities such as consumerism often represent the only accessible means of expression for foreign residents. However, few studies available to date show that residents consume significantly less politically than national citizens. This study examines how key resources education, interest, and organization membership may account this gap. By original survey data from Switzerland, I find (i) is strongest predictor but does not explain participation gap; (ii) interest important resource why Swiss citizens; (iii) three work similarly both groups, whereas education act partial mediators. The results suggest mediate rather moderate consumer differences based on citizenship status. den meisten westlichen Demokratien sind nicht-institutionalisierte politische Aktivitäten wie politischer Konsum für ausländische Einwohner oft die einzige Möglichkeit, sich politisch zu äussern. Die wenigen bisher vorliegenden Studien zeigen jedoch, dass deutlich weniger konsumieren als einheimische Bürger. vorliegende Studie untersucht, inwiefern politischen Schlüsselressourcen Bildung, politisches Interesse und Organisationszugehörigkeit diese Diskrepanz verantwortlich sind. Anhand von Original-Umfragedaten aus der Schweiz stelle ich fest, Mitgliedschaft in einer Organisation stärkste Prädiktor ist, aber nicht Kluft Beteiligung erklärt; wichtigste Ressource um erklären, warum Schweizer Bürger; drei Ressourcen beide Gruppen ähnlich wirken, während Bildung partielle Mediatoren fungieren. Ergebnisse dieser deuten darauf hin, Unterschiede im aufgrund des Staatsbürgerschaftsstatus eher vermitteln moderieren. Dans la plupart démocraties occidentales, les activités politiques non institutionnalisées telles que consommation politique représentent souvent le seul moyen d'expression aux résidents étrangers. Cependant, quelques études disponibles à ce jour montrent ces derniers consomment beaucoup moins politiquement citoyens nationaux. Cette étude examine dans quelle mesure ressources clés sont l'éducation, l'intérêt et l'appartenance une organisation peuvent expliquer cet écart. Au de données d'enquête originales provenant Suisse, je trouve est prédicteur plus fort mais n'explique pas l'écart participation; ressource principale pour pourquoi étrangers suisses; trois fonctionnent manière similaire deux groupes, alors l'éducation agissent comme médiateurs partiels. Les résultats cette suggèrent médiateur plutôt modérateur par rapport différences en fonction du statut citoyenneté. countries, closely linked citizenship. Foreigners are consequently excluded their country residence, which is, however, contrary basic principles democratic legitimacy equality (Dahl, 2007; Munro, 2008; Pedroza, 2015; Verba & Nie, 1987).11 Only Chile, Malawi, New Zealand Uruguay granted voting rights (Pedroza, 2015: 28). some able vote a local level, example Dutch cities, four cantons, or number American municipalities (Bauböck al., 2006; 2008). As immigrants significant share country's population - quarter almost half Luxembourg exclusion theoretical normative deficit light actual statistical figures, also tangible one (Federal Statistical Office, 2020b; Kaldur 2012; Statistiques, n.d.). Against background, discussion analysis forms gaining importance. recent decades, individualized has increasingly become an essential sense “mainstream politics itself” (Alteri 2016: 723). These participative bound institutionalized system nation-state, take place private, market-based, even global scale (Theocharis Deth, 2019). sense, they seem keep pace with changes caused by industrialization, globalization, digitalization: Political boycotts online activism directly target those who held responsible political, social ecological problems, transcend borders can be carried out regardless citizen status (Bennett, 1998; Norris, 2002; Stolle Micheletti, 2013). Non-institutionalized thus taken into scholars when evaluating quality condition modern add more accurate comprehensive picture activity consumerism, prominently expressed via buycotts, currently widely established well-researched form (Boström Given takes outside traditional institutional framework, might suspect it appealing sphere, (Kaldur 2012). Yet empirical analyzed behavior between citizens latter engaged (Gundelach, 2020; Schenk 2016). Looking at general, previous mainly no difference (Barreto Muñoz, 2003; Hainmueller Ortensi Riniolo, Potochnick Stegmaier, Quintelier, 2009), lower rates among (Schlenker, measurement well inconsistent comparison groups complicate generalizability research. Hence, little known about specific participation, theories socialization processes necessary them (de Rooij, Schlozman 1995). study, focus resources, namely membership. acknowledged (Schlozman 1995), strongly associated (Copeland Boulianne, 2020), understanding Fennema Tillie, 2001; Morales Giugni, 2011; 2020). Yet, simply controlling away gap foreigners Interestingly, two distinct mechanisms discussed understand relationship participation. Some direct certain engagement (Karp Banducci, Luchs Mooradian, For example, impossibility participate dampens residents, explains (Hainmueller 2017). Other point relevant moderators different importance explaining respective Schlenker, Membership seen particularly yet integrated society, facilitates contact other people ultimately action (Quintelier, 2009). investigates these help Switzerland rely were collected standardized gathered information buycotts 3,600 respondents. offers noteworthy opportunity hosts exceptionally large (25%) Pison, addition, retail sector wide range products labels, Fairtrade organic, highest numbers consumers democracies (Koos, contributes growing area research Furthermore, adds our knowledge patterns included allows us better assess democracies. According resource-based model Civic Voluntarism Model, because have (e.g., high income), motivated politics, efficacy, strong care issues), recruited networks member organization). words, active can; want to; somebody asked 1995: 15–16). meta-analysis micro-level predictors Copeland Boulianne (2020) conclude organization, politically. To citizens, shown her Gundelach corroborates shows remains factors controlled for. postulate complex illuminate 2001). While Karp 2007), others argue following figures essentially illustrate concepts mediation moderation. Mediation, visualized Figure 1, considers impact intervening variable (at least) variables. effect independent (i.e., status) dependent consumerism) mediated explained third and/or membership). mediating completely partially variable. case, (calculated using path variable) significant, taking will smaller zero compared total without (Baron Kenny, 1986; Hayes, 2009; Jaccard Jacoby, 2020: 155–166; 2021; MacKinnon, 2000).22 thank anonymous reviewers encouraging method analysis. 2, moderation (citizenship (political differs depending value third, moderating (education, looking interaction 155–166). Although analyzing focusing variable, underlying functions differ. Mediator variables indicate occurs, moderator specify occurs 1986: 1147–1176). section paper describes discusses existing literature effects consumerism. Education activities. It development skills ability speak write organize meetings. through someone learns institutions work, helps develop civic responsibility efficacy 1995; 1987). determinant Ferrer-Fons Fraile, 2013; Neilson Paxton, 2010). if know behind product landscape make purchasing decisions ethically, environmentally socially (Stehr, 2013).33 researchers income, tied buying goods conscious manner (e.g. Baumann Koos, meta-study finds income decisive Foreign generally found levels majority (Purdam Sumption Flamm, discrepancy observed Office Migration, 2006) could provide insights reasons engage educational can, extent, attributed aspects, school selection disadvantage children 2006). socioeconomic situation immigrant children's parents prevent achieving higher (Becker 2011). findings affected therefore acts mediator (Hypothesis 1a). Building argument gather manufacturing standards, foreigners' oftentimes linguistic background makes process difficult Gundelach, Stehr, 2007). appears reasonable assume disproportionately levels, educated residents' should well-educated hypothesized works moderator, greater 1b). Whereas money, time facilitate engagement, what matters motivation furthermore making valid assumptions its dimension (Stolle go shopping variety reasons, products, consciously choose ethical, environmental considerations, validly defined (Micheletti, 2005; van 2014). Empirical reveal positively influences (Forno Ceccarini, Micheletti Stolle, Newman Bartels, Existing equally experimental Hainmueller, Hangartner, Pietrantuono (2017: 259) naturalization provides incentives “to invest heavily integration”. argued circumstance being fully host society dampening whether person interested depend he she legally partake politics. 2a). With possibility bring voice must suggested inclined Bauböck Consequently, interest. plays role 2b). Organization conceived Verba, Schlozman, Brady (1995: 369) “windows wider world life”, organizations “function site recruitment”, “stimulate activity”. within voluntary associations brought together, discuss issues A related influence adapting consumers' (Bossy, 2014; Boström Klintman, Jallinoja instance, prove crucial transferring production standards 2013), providing labeling schemes 2008), mobilizing boycott (Jensen, 2003) buycott (Balsiger, Studies carefully decide whom new potential members, costly easily reach 2007: 218). Individuals recently moved connected likelihood approached 2012: 459). aggravated language barrier expected 3a). Research connection propensity ethnic recruiting (Fennema Jacobs 2004). Quintelier (2009) suggests however vital association one's own ethnicity part diverse network. Essentially, emerges belonging meet much eventually consumer-related members 3b). empirically test my hypotheses, was conducted 2017. instrument specifically designed measure individual motives frequency behavior. age 16 above randomly selected registration provided Federal Office. 3,694 respondents German- French-speaking participated survey; overall response rate 46% achieved.44 project funded National Science Foundation behalf Centre Democracy Aarau University Zurich. economic institute M.I.S Trend S.A. regard boycotters boycotted food, clothes, leisure articles least times month. Respondents deliberately bought special labels month regarded buycotters. Those buycotters indicated genuine reason follow up question then combined coded consumers. See Table supplementary material exact wordings operationalization word caution needs issued respect sample proportion roughly 18% (n = 653), (25%, 2020a). given questionnaire German French, there bias towards linguistically integrated, neighboring level (Huddleston, representative, small size lead false discovery inflated sizes (Colquhoun, follows. First, descriptive overview used subsequent analyses. Then conduct consecutive steps logistic regression start assessing bivariate see gap, include each separately, ultimately, all together. Thereafter analyze ‘medeff’ function programmed Hicks Tingley (2011a, 2011b). order avoid post-treatment bias, controls consequences (King Zeng, 2006: 147–148). exclude models employment status, having (Basu, 2002). testing significance effects, perform analyses bootstrapping 1000 replications. last step (i.e. interaction) effects. There inconvenient properties briefly addressed. Logistic latent, unobserved variables, leads coefficients confounded heterogeneity, i.e. residual variation (Best Wolf, Williams, result, differ degree across comparisons problematic (Allison, 1999; Mood, 2010; scientific consensus best solution issue is; approach predicted probabilities, average marginal tests group probabilities (Ai Norton, Berry Best Breen Kohler Kreuter, 2017; Long, term graphical plots reported (Berry standard analytical procedure listwise deletion, loss thousand observations. check robustness results, rerun main multiply imputed variables,55 missing values chained equations, creating 10 imputations All contained imputed, except ‘duration residence,’ passively (containing 19 values). material. Whilst operate data, Baron Kenny (1986). calculated Stata 17. first subdivision samples terms determinants question, Focusing primarily 1 average, considerably 21 percentage points. Children HH (ref: HH) CH French CH) Turning explanatory table presents mean groups. closer look seven categories reveals unequal distribution (analysis shown): substantially represented 4 vocational training) 6 training), outdo training completed), 3 compulsory school), 7 university). consistent census heterogeneous. immigrated earlier decades ago) predominantly had possess (Wolter 2014, 2018).