Public Opinion Towards Immigration: Evidence from a Proposition to Terminate the Free Movement of Persons Between Switzerland and the European Union

In the literature on public opinion towards immigration the issue of the free movement of persons has largely been neglected so far. This is all the more surprising as the free movement of persons is not only practiced by an overwhelming majority of European Union (EU) member and non-member states but also because the issue has become increasingly politicized in these countries. The increasing politicization affects above all border regions in affluent countries, where opposition to the free movement of persons in particular and European integration in general has recently risen. Indeed, recent case studies conducted on the more affluent side of border regions have shown that this increased opposition is fueled by some negative consequences the free movement of persons has brought about. These include, for example, increased labor market competition by cross-border commuters, congested roads and trains, or more difficulties to find affordable accommodation. Proximity and exposure to national borders are thus likely to be key determinants for public opinion towards immigration, which is why we argue that they need closer scientific investigation. In this article, we hypothesize that border residents are more reluctant to the free movement of persons than non-border residents the more they are exposed to the influx of cross-border workers. The empirical analysis draws on a representative survey on a Swiss popular initiative that demanded the termination of the free movement of persons with the EU in 2020. In line with our hypothesis, we find a significant positive interaction between border residence and the share of cross-border commuters on the likelihood to vote in favor of this proposition, a clear sign that proximity and exposure to national borders matter for public opinion towards immigration.