How much does culture matter for preferences for redistribution? Evidence from panel data on immigrants in Germany

Abstract

This study addresses a long-debated question in the humanities: does culture matter? This issue gains prominence in times of intense migration, when disputes about migrants integration and their impact on the political processes become central in political discourse. Using data from the German socio-economic panel (GSOP), the study brings together empirical evidence about preferences for redistribution of both the German population and migrants originated from different welfare regimes. Focusing on the political integration of migrants, this article explores whether immigrants from Poland, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Russia adopt preferences for redistribution of native Germans during their life in Germany. By applying OLS and fixed effects models, the study tests theoretical scenarios of the adaptation of migrants in the host country and draws conclusions about the complexity of the integration process.