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Why do states give refugees the right to work?

Author

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  • Alexander Betts
  • Olivier Sterck

Abstract

This article explains the conditions under which countries allow refugees the right to work in accordance with Articles 17–19 of the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees. It explores variation in both the de jure and de facto rights to work through a mixed-methods approach. Qualitatively, it builds upon research in the East African region, in which there is significant variation in state practice relating to refugees’ socio-economic rights. Quantitatively, it draws upon an original dataset to examine the policies of low- and middle-income countries that host more than 1,000 refugees. Coding for the right to work was supplied by and triangulated across three different refugee organizations with relevant expertise. We argue that the de jure and de facto rights to work are shaped by distinctive actors and mechanisms. De jure rights are determined by pay-offs at the ‘national’ level; de facto rights by pay-offs at the ‘local’ level. While being a signatory of international norms is the most important variable for de jure commitment, the degree of decentralization is the most important variable underlying de facto rights. These findings suggest that promoting refugee norm compliance relies upon creating incentives at both national and local levels.

Suggested Citation

  • Alexander Betts & Olivier Sterck, 2022. "Why do states give refugees the right to work?," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 38(3), pages 514-530.
  • Handle: RePEc:oup:oxford:v:38:y:2022:i:3:p:514-530.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/oxrep/grac017
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    Cited by:

    1. Shaddin Almasri, 2024. "How humanitarian–development responses may discriminate by nationality: Refugee and migrant inclusion following the 2016 Jordan Compact," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 42(1), January.
    2. Delius, Antonia & Sterck, Olivier, 2024. "Cash transfers and micro-enterprise performance: Theory and quasi-experimental evidence from Kenya," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).

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