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Asylum Recognition Rates in Western Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Eric Neumayer

    (Department of Geography and Environment, London School of Economics and Political Science and Centre for the Study of Civil War, International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (PRIO), Norway)

Abstract

Substantial variation in recognition rates for asylum claims from the same countries of origin subjects refugees to unfair and discriminatory treatment. This article demonstrates the extent of variation and lack of convergence over the period from 1980 to 1999 across Western European destination countries. Refugee interest groups also suspect that political and economic conditions in destination countries, as well as the number of past asylum claims, unduly affect recognition rates. This article estimates the determinants of asylum recognition rates. Origin-specific recognition rates vary, as they should, with the extent of political oppression, human rights violations, interstate armed conflict, and events of genocide and politicide in countries of origin. Recognition rates for the full-protection status are lower only in times of high unemployment in destination countries. Such rates are also lower if many asylum seekers from a country of origin have already applied for asylum in the past.

Suggested Citation

  • Eric Neumayer, 2005. "Asylum Recognition Rates in Western Europe," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 49(1), pages 43-66, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jocore:v:49:y:2005:i:1:p:43-66
    DOI: 10.1177/0022002704271057
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Anthony Downs, 1957. "An Economic Theory of Political Action in a Democracy," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 65(2), pages 135-135.
    2. Eric Neumayer, 2004. "Asylum Destination Choice," European Union Politics, , vol. 5(2), pages 155-180, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Timothy J. Hatton, 2020. "Asylum Migration to the Developed World: Persecution, Incentives, and Policy," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 34(1), pages 75-93, Winter.
    2. Martina Burmann & Madhinee Valeyatheepillay, 2017. "Asylum Recognition Rates in the Top 5 EU Countries," ifo DICE Report, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 15(02), pages 48-50, August.
    3. Philip Grech, 2017. "Undesired properties of the European Commission’s refugee distribution key," European Union Politics, , vol. 18(2), pages 212-238, June.
    4. repec:ces:ifodic:v:15:y:2017:i:2:p:48-50 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Gundacker, Lidwina & Kosyakova, Yuliya & Schneider, Gerald, 2021. "Global norms, regional practices: Taste-based and statistical discrimination in German asylum decision-making," Working Papers 05, University of Konstanz, Cluster of Excellence "The Politics of Inequality. Perceptions, Participation and Policies".
    6. Alessandra Conte & Silvia Migali, 2019. "The role of conflict and organized violence in international forced migration," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 41(14), pages 393-424.
    7. Bertoli, Simone & Brücker, Herbert & Fernández-Huertas Moraga, Jesús, 2022. "Do applications respond to changes in asylum policies in European countries?," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 93(C).
    8. Müller-Funk, Lea & Fröhlich, Christiane & Bank, André, 2020. "State(s) of negotiation: Drivers of forced migration governance in most of the world," GIGA Working Papers 323, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
    9. Dimiter Doychinov Toshkov, 2014. "The dynamic relationship between asylum applications and recognition rates in Europe (1987–2010)," European Union Politics, , vol. 15(2), pages 192-214, June.
    10. repec:spo:wpmain:info:hdl:2441/7qnvf3v6vn8glb4d6eb7c6pnn3 is not listed on IDEAS
    11. Fernández-Rodríguez, Nieves, 2025. "Foreign or Domestic Affairs? Unpacking Mechanisms Behind Colombia and Peru's Policies on Venezuelan Displacement," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, issue Online Fi, pages 1-29.
    12. repec:ces:ifodic:v:15:y:2017:i:2:p:19337567 is not listed on IDEAS
    13. Czaika Mathias, 2009. "The Political Economy of Refugee Migration," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 229(6), pages 803-824, December.
    14. Julia Bock-Schappelwein & Peter Huber, 2015. "Auswirkungen einer Erleichterung des Arbeitsmarktzuganges für Asylsuchende in Österreich," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 59410, August.
    15. Eiko R. Thielemann, 2005. "Symbolic Politics or Effective Burden‐Sharing? Redistribution, Side‐payments and the European Refugee Fund," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(4), pages 807-824, November.
    16. Djajić, Slobodan, 2014. "Asylum seeking and irregular migration," International Review of Law and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 83-95.
    17. Bernd Parusel, 2015. "Solidarity and fairness in the Common European Asylum System – failure or progress?," Migration Letters, Migration Letters, vol. 12(2), pages 124-136, May.
    18. Meredith Winn, 2021. "The far-right and asylum outcomes: Assessing the impact of far-right politics on asylum decisions in Europe," European Union Politics, , vol. 22(1), pages 70-93, March.
    19. Luc Bovens & Chlump Chatkupt & Laura Smead, 2012. "Measuring common standards and equal responsibility-sharing in EU asylum outcome data," European Union Politics, , vol. 13(1), pages 70-93, March.
    20. Renner, Laura & Schmid, Lena, 2023. "The decision to flee: Exploring gender-specific determinants of international refugee migration," Discussion Paper Series 2023-01, University of Freiburg, Wilfried Guth Endowed Chair for Constitutional Political Economy and Competition Policy.
    21. Timothy J. Hatton, 2015. "Asylum Policy in the EU: the Case for Deeper Integration," CESifo Economic Studies, CESifo Group, vol. 61(3-4), pages 605-637.

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