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on Economics of Human Migration |
| By: | Adriana Rocío Cardozo Silva; Christopher Prömel |
| Abstract: | In this study, we contribute to the literature about the effects of improving access to citizenship on integration outcomes. Hereby, we exploit exogenous variation from two citizenship reforms in Germany to estimate the effects of residency requirements on perceived discrimination, which is strongly linked to individual well-being, sense of belonging, and migration desires and decisions. We find that reducing waiting times to become eligible for citizenship decreases perceptions of discrimination. However, heterogeneity analyses reveal that these effects appear to be mostly limited to men and immigrants from Eastern European countries. In addition to our main analysis, we exploit exogenous variation from EU enlargement to show that citizens from countries that became part of the EU report significantly less discrimination than non-EU immigrants. |
| Keywords: | Perceived Discrimination, Legal Status, Naturalization, EU Enlargement |
| JEL: | J15 J61 J68 J78 K37 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:diw:diwsop:diw_sp1223 |
| By: | Akbulut-Yuksel, Mevlude (Dalhousie University); Aydemir, Abdurrahman B. (Sabanci University); Kirdar, Murat Güray (Koc University); Turan, Belgi (TOBB University of Economy and Technology) |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the horizontal transmission of gender norms using the forced migration of ethnic Turks from Bulgaria to Türkiye after the fall of the Iron Curtain as a natural experiment. Despite shared linguistic and religious ties, migrant women held more progressive gender norms and stronger labor market attachment than native Turkish women. Their arrival increased labor market participation among native women, particularly in male-dominated manufacturing, while men’s outcomes remained unchanged. Additionally, native women’s fertility declined, and middle school attainment rose, aligning with refugee women’s patterns. Exposure to progressive norms reshaped native women's roles in work and family life. |
| Keywords: | culture, horizontal transmission, social learning, migration |
| JEL: | J16 J15 J13 N45 |
| Date: | 2025–04 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iza:izadps:dp17871 |
| By: | Siwar Khelifa; Bruno Lanz; Marco Pecoraro |
| Abstract: | We exploit the 1990-2000 inflow of Yugoslav refugees to Geneva to examine two understudied yet policy-relevant integration mechanisms for refugee pupils: language support classes, provided prior to integration into regular classes, and sorting based on academic ability within regular classes. We find that a higher share of refugees in language support classes is associated with a lower probability of grade repetition for lower-achieving immigrant pupils of the same grade and school, but a higher probability for native pupils. Additionally, we find that grouping refugees with incumbents of similar academic ability improves the educational performance of higher-achieving incumbents and lower-achieving immigrants, while negatively affecting lower-achieving natives. Our findings offer novel insights into the trade-offs of refugee integration policies, emphasizing the need to balance support for refugee pupils with minimizing potential adverse effects on incumbent pupils. |
| Keywords: | Education, Refugees, Incumbent pupils, Peer effects |
| JEL: | H75 F22 I21 |
| Date: | 2025–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:irn:wpaper:25-05 |
| By: | Kaya, Ayhan |
| Abstract: | Turkish migration to Western Europe, particularly Germany, has been driven by economic aspirations and socio-political conflicts. Since 2013, a new wave of highly skilled young Turks has migrated to Western states due to political instability. At the same time, a concerning trend emerging in Türkiye's marginalised urban areas is the co-radicalisation of Turkish citizens and refugees fuelled by political and socio-economic tensions. This process, exacerbated by political actors exploiting cultural and civilizational divisions, could lead to a new wave of conflict-induced migration to Europe. To prevent this, proactive policies fostering dialogue and inclusive social programmes are needed, with adjusted support schemes to address root causes before they escalate. |
| Keywords: | EU-Türkiye Refugee Statement, Gezi protests, displaced people, refugees, migrant communities, displacement, Ansar, Bashar al-Assad, Ali Yerlikaya, Süleyman Soylu, Zafer Partisi, Ümit Özdaæg, Great Replacement |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:swpcom:316689 |
| By: | Hammed Adededji Adetokunbo; Blaise Gnimassoun; Anthony Simpasa |
| Abstract: | Contrary to popular belief, the majority of Africans who leave their country remain in Africa and contribute to shaping the economic performance of the continent. This paper investigates the effects of intra-African immigration on the current account in African countries over the past thirty years. To this end, we use a panel data approach and a gravity-based 2SLS estimation strategy to overcome the potential endogeneity bias. We find that intra-African immigration has a positive, strong and robust impact on the current account of African countries. In particular, intra-African immigration contributes to significantly improve the trade balance of African countries, including inside and outside the continent. Further investigations reveal that the strengthening of intra-African trade or the reduction of trade extroversion as well as the demographic vitality favoured by intra-African immigration are the mechanisms behind these results. Thus, full implementation of the African Union protocol on free movement of people between countries can deepen regional integration and help reduce structural current account deficits that countries face. |
| Keywords: | international migration, current account, trade, Africa. |
| JEL: | F14 F22 F32 O55 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ulp:sbbeta:2025-03 |
| By: | Andrea Foschi; Christopher House; Christian Proebsting; Linda Tesar |
| Abstract: | We examine the responsiveness of labor participation, unemployment and labor migration to exogenous variations in labor demand. Our empirical approach considers four instruments for regional labor demand commonly used in the literature. Empirically, we find that labor migration is a significant margin of adjustment for all our instruments. Following an increase in regional labor demand, the initial increase in employment is accounted for mainly through a reduction in unemployment. Over time however, net labor in-migration becomes the dominant factor contributing to increased regional employment. After 5 years, roughly 60 percent of the increase in employment is explained by the change in population. Responses of labor migration are strongest for individuals aged 20-35. Based on historical data back to the 1950s, we find no evidence of a decline in the elasticity of migration to changes in employment. |
| JEL: | E24 E32 F66 J61 R23 |
| Date: | 2025–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:33755 |
| By: | Julien Champagne; Antoine Poulin-Moore; Mallory Long |
| Abstract: | We document recent changes in Canadian immigration, marked by an increasing prevalence of temporary residency. Using microdata from Statistics Canada's Labour Force Survey, we show that temporary workers' characteristics and nominal wages have diverged from those of Canadian-born workers. Between 2015 and 2024, temporary workers have become younger, less experienced and more likely to migrate from lower-income countries. As well, the shares of temporary workers in skilled occupations have declined moderately. Throughout this period, the average nominal wage gap between temporary and Canadian-born workers has more than doubled, widening from -9.5% to -22.6%. Further, we estimate Mincer regressions to assess how these evolving characteristics have contributed to the growing wage gap. Our findings show that this increase can be explained by observable characteristics. Our results suggest that aggregate nominal wages would have been, on average, 0.7% higher in 2023–24 had the characteristics of temporary workers remained unchanged over the past decade. |
| Keywords: | Labour markets; Productivity |
| JEL: | J20 J24 J61 |
| Date: | 2025–05 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bca:bocadp:25-08 |
| By: | Hillenbrand, Tobias (RS: GSBE MGSoG, Maastricht Graduate School of Governance); Martorano, Bruno (Maastricht Graduate School of Governance, RS: GSBE MGSoG); Siegel, Melissa (Maastricht Graduate School of Governance, RS: GSBE MGSoG, RS: UNU-MERIT Theme 2, RS: UNU-MERIT Theme 6, RS: FdR Institute ITEM, RS: UNU-MERIT - MACIMIDE) |
| Abstract: | Immigration has become one of the most divisive political issues in Europe and around the world. In Germany, Europe’s largest refugee hosting country, public attitudes have reached a low point. Besides increased “real-life” exposure to immigrants, exposure to all sorts of messages centered around immigration and refugees may be behind this worrying trend. While prior research has investigated the effects of specific subjects of the immigration discourse, such as specific frames or statistical information, it remains unclear how “neutral” reporting on refugee migration impacts public attitudes. We fill this gap using data from an original survey experiment conducted in Germany in May 2023. The findings suggest that a sober (neutral) video providing basic background information on Syrian refugees reduces humanitarian concerns for this refugee group, increases the perception of security threats and lowers the willingness to support refugee camps abroad. The results are driven by West German residents. Qualitative data reveals that, although the video is indeed perceived as “neutral”, it triggers security-related associations among West Germans, seemingly eroding concerns for refugees’ wellbeing. Conversely, East Germans, while starting from a slightly more negative base level, more frequently express indifference. Finally, merging our survey data with administrative data on the foreign population in respondents’ counties reveals that larger percentage increases in real-life immigration exposure mitigate the treatment effect. |
| JEL: | A13 D63 D83 J15 O15 |
| Date: | 2025–04–16 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:unm:unumer:2025011 |
| By: | Andrén, Daniela (Örebro University School of Business); Andrén, Thomas (Swedish Confederation of Professional Associations Saco); Kahanec, Martin (Central European University Private University) |
| Abstract: | This study investigates whether couple ethnic composition shapes household welfare dependence, a relevant dimension overlooked in previous studies. Using fifteen years of Swedish panel data and a dynamic discrete-choice model that addresses initialconditions and unobserved heterogeneity, we analyze structural state dependence in social assistance across households of intra-ethnic and inter-ethnic couples. Consistent with previous studies, we find that thatwelfare participation is much higher for foreign-born individuals in both intra- and inter-ethnic couples than for couples of natives. However, the lowest structural state dependence in social assistance was found for households of inter-ethnic couples, while individuals from couples of natives show the strongest state dependence, nearly five times higher than for households of couples comprising foreign-born women with Swedish-born men and stable couples of foreign-born men and Swedish-born women. Our findings offer important policy implications for addressing social assistance needs across diverse household configurations in increasingly multicultural and fiscally constrained societies. Policy and political discourse focused primarily on reducing immigrants’ welfare dependency may be misguided, as households of native-born individuals exhibit stronger structural state dependence despite lower overall participation rates. Policymakers should broaden their focus to include households of couples of natives in efforts to reduce welfare persistence. |
| Keywords: | structural state dependence; social assistance; intra-ethnic; inter-ethnic; household. |
| JEL: | I30 I38 J18 |
| Date: | 2025–05–20 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:oruesi:2025_008 |