Yujin Woo (Hitotsubashi University), Jaehyun Song (Kansai University), “Nationally Prioritized Migrant Groups and Public Reaction: Evidence from Framing and Conjoint Experiments in East Asia”

U.S. EDT: June 9 (Thu), 8 – 9 PM

JST: June 10 (Fri), 9 – 10 AM

NOTE: Registration required! Link.

Paper is available here.

Abstract:

The government frequently iterate their positions and preferences before its people to win their support. This paper investigates whether the repetitive government messages that prioritize certain migrant groups yield any impact on public perception of migrants. According to cognitive psychology literature, message repetition can positively influence the recipients’ opinions (truth effect) while overexposure can lead to the opposite (reactance). To assess these contradictory effects in the context of migration, we fielded online survey in Japan and South Korea (2020-2021) based on framing and conjoint experiments. The statistical analyses display nuanced interpretations. The respondents in both countries revealed similar preferences over migrant characteristics, such as gender, age, education level, and skill level. However, they did not react, either positively or negatively, to supposedly familiar government statements. Instead, they reacted more strongly and positively to a statement where the government proposed to prioritize somewhat uncommon or irregular migrant group. This finding seems to suggest people’s tendency to follow country-level information when they cannot evaluate the impact of certain policies or issues. In addition, the structure of integration seems to matter. The Korean respondents exhibited greater preference toward the idea of naturalization, which is generally associated with a provision of full rights as legitimate members of the society.

Presenter: Yujin Woo (Hitotsubashi University).

Discussants: Charles Crabtree (Dartmouth College), Kikuko Nagayoshi (University of Tokyo).

Chair: Phillip Y. Lipscy (University of Toronto).