Education Expansion and Attitudes Toward Immigrants Across Generations in the United Kingdom

Abstract

University graduates hold more positive attitudes toward immigrants (ATI) than non-graduates. However, whether individual gains in higher education create a more inclusive society depends on why higher education is associated with more positive attitudes. Education may shape attitudes directly, by fostering inclusive values, or indirectly, by shielding the highly educated from competition with immigrants. Over time, if the effect is direct, the expansion of education leads younger cohorts to hold increasingly positive views. In contrast, if the effect is indirect, the advantage conferred by higher education may erode as it becomes more widespread, potentially weakening its liberalizing influence on the population. Using multivariate regression analysis, I test these competing hypotheses for the UK by examining whether the gap in attitudes between high and low educated has narrowed as the British and immigrant populations have become more educated. I use the British Election Study and the British Social Attitudes Survey, which cover ATI between 1961 and 2021 for cohorts born throughout the twentieth century. In line with a direct effect of higher education, I find that graduates have consistently had more positive attitudes than non-graduates across generations, even relative to the expansion of education. However, I find that all younger cohorts, including the high educated, are increasingly more likely to believe that immigrants take jobs from the British-born and increase crime. This suggests that while higher education is a key determinant of ATI, it is not sufficient to offset other generational factors that may lead to rising hostility.