Nineteenth International Conference on Interdisciplinary Social Sciences

Abstract

This work analyzes the evolution of materialist values and the so-called “new values” – multiculturalism, LGBTI+, environmentalism and feminism – in the European Union in the 21st century, with special focus on multiculturalism and the perception of immigration. It also considers how these values are influenced by certain variables, such as countries, household income, degree of urbanization, education, age, and gender. After a review of the theoretical contributions regarding the topic of values, the data from the biannual waves of the European Social Survey (ESS) are exploited from 2002 to 2018. The multivariate linear regression analysis carried out concludes that richer countries are less prone to materialistic values and more inclined towards “new values” – multiculturalism, LGBTI+, and feminism. In the case of household income, those households with higher incomes tend to be more materialistic. Urban areas subscribe to materialist values and “new values” – multiculturalism, LGBTI+, and feminism – to a greater degree than rural areas, as do young people compared to older people, although older people are more environmentalist. Men are more materialistic, and women more aligned with the “new values.” Likewise, generally speaking, age and education are the greatest predictors of values in the European Union.