Thesis

Abstract This paper seeks to explore how intra-EU labour migration affects attitudes towards the welfare state. Through the use of multilevel models and the European Social Survey, I test attitudes towards welfare state effort in light of increasing intra-EU labour mobility and aim to further understanding regarding the processes that may be leading to the adjustment of EU welfare systems as EU mobility intensifies. The mechanism behind this relationship remains unknown because indicators specifically for intra-EU labour mobility have not previously been available. Using the EU-LFS we create a new indicator for Central and Eastern European labour mobility to test alongside foreign-born, an indicator for the general level of immigration. The results show no direct influence of CEE labour mobility on attitudes towards redistribution, but instead a positive and significant relationship for general levels of immigration, providing some evidence in favour of the compensation hypothesis and intergroup contact theory. Moreover, for CEE labour mobility the unemployment rate is an important interaction, we find that at high levels of CEE labour migration and unemployment that there is a moderating effect on preferences for redistribution suggesting that an individual’s desire for compensation may only extend so far. Keywords: intra-EU labour mobility, immigration, social policy attitudes, welfare state Acknowledgements: Earlier versions of this paper were presented at an online symposium at Leiden University, 2021 and at CES, Lisbon 2022. Thank you to all the participants for your comments and suggestions. Disclaimer: This study is based on data from Eurostat, the European Union Labour force Survey (EU-LFS), 2017. The responsibility for all conclusions drawn from the data lies entirely with the authors. 5 Intra-EU Labour Migration and Attitudes Towards the Welfare State

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