false ideas about immigrants and immigration and discrimination in labor market

Using the European Values Survey (EVS) data, this article focuses on attitudes towards immigrants and particularly the relationship between that misperceptions about immigrants an immigration and discrimination against immigrants in labor market. Our analysis shows that a significant proportion of Belgian shares some xenophobic ideas. The study also shows that more than one out of two Belgian claims to be in favor of discriminatory practices by employers against foreign workers. The estimation of an econometric model confirms that misperceptions about the size of immigration and its effects on the country, including crime, labor market and public finances play a key role in the individuals’ preference for discrimination.