期刊名称：DIW Diskussionspapiere / Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Berlin
出版年度：2007
卷号：2007
出版社：Deutsches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung, Berlin
摘要：Recent years have witnessed a rise in right-wing extremism among German youth
and young adults. This paper investigates the extent to which the experience of
parental unemployment during childhood affects young people's far right-wing
attitudes and xenophobia. Estimates from three German data sets show a positive
relationship between growing up with unemployed parents and right-wing
extremism, with xenophobia in particular. This paper uses stark differences in
unemployment levels between East and West Germany, both before and after
reunification, to investigate a causal relationship. Instrumental variables
estimates suggest strong and significant effects of parental unemployment on
right-wing extremism. Various panel estimates also point to a positive
relationship. The results are consistent with classical theories of economic
interest and voting behaviour which predict that persons who develop feelings of
economic insecurity are more susceptible to right-wing extremism and
anti-foreign sentiments.
