Education Moderating Effects on Free Movement Attitudes: A Comparative Approach

Education Moderating Effects on Free Movement Attitudes: A Comparative Approach

November 4, 2019

Working Paper

Media is likely to play a role in forming people’s attitudes toward political topics such as intra-EU migration. Education is perceived as one of the most important factors moderating media influence. In this study, researchers conducted a panel analysis in seven European countries to investigate whether and how people’s level of education affects the extent to which they are influenced by media messaging around EU free movement. The analysis showed that attitudes toward free movement remain highly stable over time, regardless of the level of education. The exception is Hungary , where those with a moderate level of education were found to be more likely to have their views on intra-EU migration affected by the media.