Region of Origin or Religion? Understanding Why Immigrants from Muslim-Majority Countries are Discriminated Against in Western Europe

Abstract

There is widespread evidence that immigrants from Muslim-majority countries are discriminated against in Western Europe, relative to immigrants from European Christian-majority countries. Yet, it is not clear whether this discrimination is based on religion (Muslim), region of origin (since the bulk of Muslim-majority countries are located in regions outside Europe), or both. Relying on European Social Survey data and an identification strategy that seeks to separate religion from region of origin, our findings indicate that religion rather than region of origin explains such discrimination.