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Fiscal harmonization and migration in the European Union

Author

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  • Socrates Karidis
  • Michael A. Quinn

Abstract

The focus of this paper is the impact of fiscal policies on international migration flows. The Tiebout hypothesis proposes that individuals consider differences in tax rates and social spending when making migration decisions. While evidence of the Tiebout hypothesis has been found in several domestic U.S. and Canadian studies, this is the first paper to test the Tiebout hypothesis using bilateral international migration flows. The Maastricht treaty has created a unique opportunity to study migration in an international context by removing legal barriers to migration within the European Union. Using data from EU countries throughout the 1980s and 1990s, this paper finds significant statistical support for the Tiebout hypothesis with regards to international migration flows. These results suggest that achieving greater fiscal harmonization across countries would lower migration flows. The results also imply that EU countries which are resistant to achieving fiscal harmonization with members may, as a result, have problems in attaining their other goal of reducing immigration (inward) from these countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Socrates Karidis & Michael A. Quinn, 2006. "Fiscal harmonization and migration in the European Union," Brussels Economic Review, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles, vol. 49(4), pages 333-352.
    • Handle: RePEc:bxr:bxrceb:y:2006:v:49:i:4:p:333-352
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Kallandranis Christos & Karidis Socrates, 2014. "Assessing the Effect of the Consumer-Voter Sentiment on Tiebout-Like Migration: The EU 27 Case," Global Economy Journal, De Gruyter, vol. 14(1), pages 1-25, June.
    2. Jana Tepperová & Stanislav Klazar, 2012. "Vliv sociálních systémů a jejich koordinace na ekonomickou migraci [The Impact of Social Systems and their Coordination on Economic Migration]," Politická ekonomie, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2012(4), pages 505-522.
    3. Aaron Jackson & David Ortmeyer & Michael Quinn, 2013. "Are immigrants really attracted to the welfare state? Evidence from OECD countries," International Economics and Economic Policy, Springer, vol. 10(4), pages 491-519, December.

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