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Immigrant franchise and immigration policy: Evidence from the Progressive Era

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  • Facchini, Giovanni
  • Biavaschi, Costanza

Abstract

What is the role played by immigrant groups in shaping migration policy in the destination country? We address this question exploiting cross-state variation in U.S. citizens' access to the franchise, due to the presence of residency requirements. First we document that naturalized immigrants were more geographically mobile than natives. Second, congressmen representing districts with large numbers of naturalized U.S. citizens were more likely to support an open migration policy, but this effect is reversed once we account for residency requirements. Our results indicate that electoral accountability of U.S. congressmen to naturalized immigrants was a key factor in explaining this outcome.

Suggested Citation

  • Facchini, Giovanni & Biavaschi, Costanza, 2020. "Immigrant franchise and immigration policy: Evidence from the Progressive Era," CEPR Discussion Papers 14684, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:14684
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    Cited by:

    1. Zimran, Ariell, 2022. "US immigrants’ secondary migration and geographic assimilation during the Age of Mass Migration," Explorations in Economic History, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    2. Hatton, Timothy J., 2023. "The Political Economy of Assisted Immigration: Australia 1860-1913," IZA Discussion Papers 16298, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Stahl, Jörg R., 2023. "Changes in the electorate and firm values: Evidence from the introduction of female suffrage in Switzerland," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 386-402.
    4. Eriksson, Katherine & Ward, Zachary, 2022. "Immigrants and cities during the age of mass migration," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    5. Timothy J Hatton & Zachary Ward, 2018. "International Migration in the Atlantic Economy 1850 - 1940," CEH Discussion Papers 02, Centre for Economic History, Research School of Economics, Australian National University.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Immigration policy; Political economy;

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers

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