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The impact of EU enlargement on immigrants’ mental health

Author

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  • Berlanda, Andrea
  • Lodigiani, Elisabetta
  • Tosetti, Elisa
  • Vittadini, Giorgio

Abstract

In this paper22This paper was supported by the PRIN project n.2022CZKPMY entitled “Health and Wellbeing of the Elderly”, funded by the MUR.we explore the impact of the 2007 European Union enlargement to Romania and Bulgaria on the mental health of documented immigrants from these countries who arrived in Italy before 2007. Using data from a unique administrative data set for the Italian Lombardy region and by employing a difference-in-differences individual fixed effect estimator, we find that this enlargement caused a significant improvement in the mental health of young male immigrants. To shed light on the mechanisms behind these results, we use data from a unique survey administered in the Lombardy region and show that the enlargement mitigates sources of health concerns and increases income and employment stability through permanent job contracts for young male immigrants. Overall, these findings suggest that enhanced labour market conditions due to enlargement may lead to a subsequent important decrease in psychological distress among immigrants.

Suggested Citation

  • Berlanda, Andrea & Lodigiani, Elisabetta & Tosetti, Elisa & Vittadini, Giorgio, 2024. "The impact of EU enlargement on immigrants’ mental health," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 116-135.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:225:y:2024:i:c:p:116-135
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2024.06.035
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Mental health; Migration; Drug prescriptions; EU enlargement;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • J60 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - General

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