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The Welfare Magnet Hypothesis: Evidence from an Immigrant Welfare Scheme in Denmark

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  • Ole Agersnap
  • Amalie Jensen
  • Henrik Kleven

Abstract

We study the effects of welfare generosity on international migration using reforms of immigrant welfare benefits in Denmark. The first reform, implemented in 2002, lowered benefits for non-EU immigrants by about 50 percent, with no changes for natives or EU immigrants. The policy was later repealed and reintroduced. Based on a quasi-experimental research design, we find sizable effects: the benefit reduction reduced the net flow of immigrants by about 5,000 people per year, and the subsequent repeal of the policy reversed the effect almost exactly. The implied elasticity of migration with respect to benefits equals 1.3. This represents some of the first causal evidence on the welfare magnet hypothesis.

Suggested Citation

  • Ole Agersnap & Amalie Jensen & Henrik Kleven, 2020. "The Welfare Magnet Hypothesis: Evidence from an Immigrant Welfare Scheme in Denmark," American Economic Review: Insights, American Economic Association, vol. 2(4), pages 527-542, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aerins:v:2:y:2020:i:4:p:527-42
    DOI: 10.1257/aeri.20190510
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    Cited by:

    1. Jacob Nielsen Arendt & Iben Bolvig & Mette Foged & Linea Hasager & Giovanni Peri, 2020. "Language Training and Refugees' Integration," NBER Working Papers 26834, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Di Iasio, Valentina & Wahba, Jackline, 2024. "The Determinants of Refugees’ Destinations: Where do refugees locate within the EU?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    3. Martin Guzi & Martin Kahanec, 2023. "Welfare Migration," Discussion Papers 65, Central European Labour Studies Institute (CELSI).
    4. Eduard Suari‐Andreu & Olaf van Vliet, 2023. "Intra‐EU migration, public transfers and assimilation," Economica, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 90(360), pages 1229-1264, October.
    5. Simiao Chen & Zhangfeng Jin & Klaus Prettner, 2023. "Can I live with you after I retire? Retirement, old age support and internal migration in a developing country," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 56(3), pages 964-988, August.
    6. Anger, Silke & Bassetto, Jacopo & Sandner, Malte, 2024. "Lifting Barriers to Skill Transferability: Immigrant Integration through Occupational Recognition," IZA Discussion Papers 17444, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    7. Hai‐Anh H. Dang & Trong‐Anh Trinh & Paolo Verme, 2023. "Do refugees with better mental health better integrate? Evidence from the Building a New Life in Australia longitudinal survey," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(12), pages 2819-2835, December.
    8. Hippolyte d'Albis & Ekrame Boubtane & Dramane Coulibaly, 2022. "Global Uncertainty and International Migration To Western Europe," Annals of Economics and Statistics, GENES, issue 148, pages 1-28.
    9. Di Iasio, Valentina & Wahba, Jackline, 2023. "Expecting Brexit and UK migration: Should I go?," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    10. Vincenzo Bove & Georgios Efthyvoulou & Harry Pickard, 2023. "Government ideology and international migration," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 125(1), pages 107-138, January.
    11. Bratu, Cristina & Dahlberg, Matz & Engdahl, Mattias & Nikolka, Till, 2020. "Spillover effects of stricter immigration policies," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    12. Andersen, Torben M. & Sørensen, Allan, 2023. "The interdependencies between the private and public sectors in open economies," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    13. Giovanni Facchini, 2021. "Review Of: “Globalization, Migration And Welfare State: Understanding The Macroeconomic Trifecta” By Assaf Razin," Israel Economic Review, Bank of Israel, vol. 19(1), pages 135-140.
    14. Vassil Kirov & Lucia Kováčová & Martin Guzi & Jan Czarzasty & Dragoș Adăscăliței & Martin Kahanec, 2023. "Preserving Jobs in COVID-19 Times in CEE Countries: Social Partners’ Responses and Actions," Discussion Papers 66, Central European Labour Studies Institute (CELSI).
    15. Matilda Kilström & Birthe Larsen & Elisabet Olme, 2023. "Temporary refugee protection and labor-market outcomes," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 65(4), pages 1895-1929, October.
    16. Corneo, Giacomo & Neidhöfer, Guido, 2021. "Income redistribution and self-selection of immigrants," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    17. Jin, Zhangfeng & Zhang, Junsen, 2023. "Access to local citizenship and internal migration in a developing country: Evidence from a Hukou reform in China," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(1), pages 181-215.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • H53 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Government Expenditures and Welfare Programs
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination

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