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Public Finance in an Era of Global Demographic Change: Fertility Busts, Migration Booms, and Public Policy

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  • David Wildasin

    (Martin School of Public Policy and Administration and Department of Economics, University of Kentucky)

Abstract

The rich countries of the world, especially those of Western Europe, are aging rapidly due to fertility rates far below the replacement rate, while experiencing substantial immigration from elsewhere in Europe, North Africa, and the third world generally. For the foreseeable future, West European countries will confront a policy tradeoff between population aging and (im)migration. The literature shows that both skilled and unskilled workers affect the highly redistributive fiscal systems of the advanced economies, the first as net contributors, the second as net beneficiaries. Age-imbalanced population structures in rich countries and global competition for labor create incentives to limit the extent of redistribution in rich countries.

Suggested Citation

  • David Wildasin, 2008. "Public Finance in an Era of Global Demographic Change: Fertility Busts, Migration Booms, and Public Policy," Working Papers 2008-02, University of Kentucky, Institute for Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations.
    • Handle: RePEc:ifr:wpaper:2008-02
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    File URL: http://www.ifigr.org/publication/ifir_working_papers/IFIR-WP-2008-02.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

    1. David E. Wildasin, 2006. "Global Competition for Mobile Resources: Implications for Equity, Efficiency and Political Economy," CESifo Economic Studies, CESifo Group, vol. 52(1), pages 61-110, March.
    2. Traettino, Salvador, 2023. "Migración forzada y finanzas públicas locales: evidencia de los municipios en Colombia," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 12926, Inter-American Development Bank.
    3. Daniel Rauhut & Birgit Aigner-Walder & Rahel M. Schomaker, 2023. "Economic Theory and Migration," Springer Books, in: The Economics of Immigration Beyond the Cities, chapter 0, pages 21-50, Springer.
    4. Agrawal David R. & Foremny Dirk, 2022. "Redistribution In A Globalized World," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 242(5-6), pages 551-567, December.
    5. Salvador Traettino, 2022. "Migración forzada y finanzas públicas locales: Evidencia de los municipios en Colombia," Documentos CEDE 20335, Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Economía, CEDE.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Aging; Public Pensions; Migration; Fiscal Adjustment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H0 - Public Economics - - General
    • F2 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers

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