Perceived inequality of opportunity and xenophobic prejudice: Multilevel evidence from an Asian metropolis

Abstract

A large body of research addresses why some natives are tolerant of outgroup members while others oppose them. For the most part, prior studies focus on macrolevel indicators (e.g., unemployment, economic globalization, immigration influx) and microlevel characteristics (e.g., age, gender, education, income). Despite the difference in the unit of analysis, they commonly emphasize ‘objective’ factors rooted in the concept of xenophobic threat. Against this backdrop, the present study shifts the analysis to a ‘subjective’ dimension, namely, perception of (in)equality of opportunity. We contend that, all else equal, individuals who perceive their society to be more unequal, i.e., lack procedural fairness, show greater resistance toward outgroup members. Based on a large-scale probability sample (N = 42,923) of residents of Seoul, the capital of South Korea, we empirically demonstrate this argument. Specifically, Korean natives who feel a stronger sense of perceived inequality are less willing to accept, or more hostile toward, the foreign-born population. Our analysis further shows that the magnitude of this focal link is greater in the context of wealthier communities (measured by average housing price) and in the company of higher status coresidents.