Analysis of the Effects of the Unemployment Rate on Xenophobia in Japan Based on Cumulative Social Survey Data

Abstract

Group threat theory explains that xenophobia springs from the perception that immigrants threaten natives. Accordingly, an increase in the unemployment rate is expected to strengthen xenophobia among native residents, as this increase in unemployment stimulates an awareness of the competitive relationship between immigrants and host residents for job opportunities.

Previous studies have examined the association between the unemployment rate and xenophobia in Japan, and none supported the hypothesis based on the group threat theory. However, previous studies are insufficient because they analyzed cross-sectional data and did not control for the influence of regional factors beyond the unemployment rate.

This study analyzed data from the International Social Survey in 1995, 2003, and 2013 to control for time-invariant regional effects. The results revealed that when the unemployment rate increases, people more strongly believe that immigrants threaten the job opportunities of natives. However, the unemployment rate and perceived job threat did not significantly affect regional degrees of xenophobia. Conversely, the results revealed that the regional rise in xenophobia in the early 2000s was due to the strengthening of the stereotype that foreigners increase the crime rate. Finally, the results and limitations of this study are discussed.