Contact vs. information: What shapes attitudes towards immigration? Evidence from an experiment in schools

We analyze whether (correct) information provision on immigration is more effective than contact in shaping attitudes towards immigration. collect data from a randomized experiment 18 middle- and high-school classes the city of Rome. Half meet refugee Mauritania read book about his story, whereas rest them attend lecture figures numbers Italy world. On average, students develop better (especially case policy preferences perceived number immigrants their country) somewhat improve feelings associated with after treatment they do treatment. Also, having received strongly adjust knowledge However, students’ individual characteristics (sex and, to lesser extent, age) affect treatments’ relative effectiveness.