The rise and fall of exclusion: A longitudinal study of US attitudes toward immigration

How have US immigration attitudes evolved over time? This study investigates the insufficiently addressed temporal dynamics of anti-immigration attitudes through dual lenses of economic and social exclusion. Utilizing six waves of the World Values Survey data (1990–2017) and an age-period-cohort framework, it explores how age, historical context and cohorts shape public attitudes toward immigration. Economic exclusion follows a curvilinear age pattern, initially rising, then plateauing and eventually declining, reflecting shifting perceptions of labor market competition. In contrast, social exclusion increases steadily with age, underscoring persistent concerns over cultural integration among older individuals. Period effects reveal notable historical shifts, whereas cohort effects show minimal variation, suggesting generational convergence. By bridging economic and sociocultural perspectives, this study contributes to broader theoretical discourse and longitudinal empirical research on immigration attitudes.