Can International Immigrants in China Enjoy Social Welfare? Analysis Based on Public Welfare Attitudes

With the development of “the Belt and Road” Initiative, China is taking a more open and inclusive attitude to attract international talents to China. However, in recent years, a series of social events concerning the preferential treatment of foreigners， mainly foreign students, in China have aroused widespread public concern and even doubts. Compared with the research on the public attitudes towards the welfare eligibility of international immigrants in western countries, the research on the public attitudes towards the welfare eligibility of international immigrants in China is still in a blank state. Based on the data of China Welfare Attitudes Survey 2018, this article studies the public attitudes towards welfare eligibility of international immigrants and their determinants from the perspectives of ethnic competition hypothesis and intergroup contact hypothesis. The results are as follows. (1) Although the public agrees to maintain a certain number of international immigrants to work and study in China, they hold a more cautious and conservative attitude towards the welfare eligibility of international immigrants. (2) The public in the eastern coastal areas are more inclusive and tolerant about the welfare eligibility of international immigrants than the public in the inland areas in China. (3) Compared with the northern, southern and western European countries, the attitude of the Chinese public towards the welfare eligibility of international migrants is more cautious and conservative. (4) Socio-economic status, age, number of children, region and work unit are the critical determinants of those attitudes. The conclusions of this paper are helpful to evaluate the potential public opinion risk of China's international migration management policy and can provide important enlightenment for improving China's international migration management policy and promoting “the Belt and Road” Initiative.