The consequences of hosting asylum seekers for citizens’ policy preferences

Asylum migration is a major societal challenge in the Western world affecting residents’ policy preferences. We analyze effects of newly hosting asylum seekers given municipality on local citizens’ preferences terms migratory and redistributive policies as well support or opposition to political change general. Policy are measured based actual voting behavior national referendums Switzerland between 1987 2017. exploit administrative placement across municipalities find that citizens vote temporarily slightly more restrictively immigration issues less supportive redistribution than before seekers. Citizens not likely for status quo participate per se.