Attitudes to immigrants harden due to downturn

Negative attitudes towards immigrants have hardened in recession-hit countries such as Ireland, Spain, and Greece, a study by the Kemmy Business School at the University of Limerick has found.

It also showed attitudes to immigrant are significantly more positive in more affluent countries such as Sweden and Denmark.

The authors of the study say fluctuations in economic conditions, such as the rise in unemployment, appear to affect attitudes towards immigrants. In Ireland, a significant rise in negative attitudes occurred between 2006 and 2010, a period of economic turbulence and high unemployment.