Public attitudes toward immigrants and immigration policies across seven nations

Similarities and differences across the nations Australia, Canada, West Germany, East Germany, Great Britain, Japan, United States and France have been obvious in the public opinion surveys from 1995 and 2003. For instance, none of the countries did more than 21% of the respondents favor increasing immigration by either a lot or a little. In 2003, more respondents favored increases in immigration to their country except for Japan. A more obvious wish in increase was seen in Canada and Australia. When asked whether immigrants were good for their country, Australians and Canadians were positive about it in bot time periods while it is the reverse for the British and East Germans. In job terms, West Germany respondents who though immigrants took jobs from the native born increased from 27-39%. In Great Britain and the US, the percentage believing immigrants take jobs from people born in their country dropped by 6% each and in Australia it dropped by 11%. On crime issues, as to whether immigrants increase crime in their country, the US, Australia and Canada are in close agreement as well as Japan. In the 2003 survey, 44% of French respondents believe immigrants increase crime in their country. On whether immigrants improve their country by bringing new ideas and cultures, Australia and Canada believed so in both periods.