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Superseding Dublin: The European asylum system as a non-cooperative game

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  • Rossi, Enzo

Abstract

The European asylum system operates according to the ‘Dublin system' rules, where the responsible Member State will be the state through which the asylum seeker first entered the system. This has been immediately a source of controversy between states. A fairer system would be based on quotas, where host countries share the burden according to appropriate criteria, but member states never reached a common agreement. In this paper we offer a vision of the European asylum system as a non-cooperative game where states compete to reduce their asylum burden. As the two different systems (Dublin-like or quotas) lead to different equilibriums, according to the Pareto criterion the preferred system is the one where all states are better able to achieve their national objectives. We examine the conditions under which a relocation system based on quotas may be preferable to the Dublin rules, and why greater consideration of the humanitarian aspects of asylum can favour its adoption and reinforce cohesion of the system.

Suggested Citation

  • Rossi, Enzo, 2017. "Superseding Dublin: The European asylum system as a non-cooperative game," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 50-59.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:irlaec:v:51:y:2017:i:c:p:50-59
    DOI: 10.1016/j.irle.2017.06.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    European asylum policy; Burden-sharing; Refugees’ rights; Intergovernmental agreement;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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