People I (Mostly) Admire 165. The Economist Who (Gasp!) Asks People What They Think
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Aug 30, 2025 
In this engaging discussion, Harvard Professor Stefanie Stantcheva, a John Bates Clark Medal winner, shares her groundbreaking approach to economic research through public surveys. She reveals the often ignored but crucial insights into immigration perceptions and how media narratives shape public opinion on economic policies. Stantcheva also delves into the challenges of creating effective surveys and the significant influence of upbringing on economic views, highlighting the gap between consumer experiences and statistical data.
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Widespread Misperceptions About Immigration
- Respondents massively overestimate immigrant shares and hold systematic misperceptions across countries.
- Local exposure nudges perceptions, but media salience amplifies overestimation nationally.
Priming Shapes Policy Views
- Asking factual immigrant questions before policy questions reduces support for redistribution via priming.
- Thinking about immigrants makes respondents less supportive of progressive taxes and transfers.
Prefer Narratives Over Bare Facts
- Test both factual and narrative interventions when trying to change attitudes about migrants.
- Use personal anecdotes to counteract misperceptions; raw facts often fail to shift opinions.