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Living in limbo: Economic and social costs for refugees

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  • Nadiya Ukrayinchuk
  • Olena Havrylchyk

Abstract

Our paper tests the hypothesis that living in limbo could have negative consequences for the socio‐economic integration of refugees. We define limbo as a protracted period when asylum seekers are waiting for the decision concerning their permanent refugee status. Relying on the French survey of migrants, France's longitudinal survey of migrants (ELIPA), we measure integration by labour market participation, fluency in French, finding new French friends and studying. To account for the endogeneity of limbo, we instrument it with the administrative backlog. We find that living longer in limbo during the asylum‐seeking period slows down future integration of refugees, but results differ with respect to gender and educational attainment. While having lived longer in limbo slows down most aspects of socio‐economic integration for refugees with no degree or a high school degree, those with a bachelor's degree do not experience negative effects. Male refugees who had lived longer in limbo have a lower likelihood of being employed and studying in France, while similar females make fewer French friends. Les limbes administratifs : coûts économiques et sociaux pour les réfugiés. Notre article teste l’hypothèse selon laquelle le temps passé dans les “ limbes ” pourrait avoir des conséquences négatives sur l’intégration socioéconomique des réfugiés. Nous définissons les “ limbes ” comme une période prolongée pendant laquelle les demandeurs d’asile attendent la décision concernant leur statut de réfugié permanent. En nous appuyant sur l’Enquête Longitudinale sur l’Intégration des Primo‐Arrivants (ELIPA), nous mesurons l’intégration par la participation au marché du travail, la maîtrise du français, les liens amicaux avec des natifs français et la poursuite des études en France. Pour tenir compte de l’endogénéité des “ limbes ”, nous l’instrumentons avec des indicateurs de la lenteur administrative. Nous constatons qu’une part plus élevée du temps passée dans les “ limbes ” durant la période de demande d’asile ralentit la future intégration des réfugiés, mais les résultats diffèrent selon le sexe et le niveau d’éducation. Alors qu’une plus longue durée des “ limbes ” ralentit la plupart des aspects de l’intégration socioéconomique des réfugiés sans diplôme ou avec un diplôme d’études secondaires, les réfugiés avec un diplôme supérieur ne subissent pas d’effets négatifs. Les hommes étant restés longtemps dans les “ limbes ” ont beaucoup moins de chances d’être employés et d’étudier en France, tandis que les femmes se font moins d’amis français.

Suggested Citation

  • Nadiya Ukrayinchuk & Olena Havrylchyk, 2020. "Living in limbo: Economic and social costs for refugees," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 53(4), pages 1523-1551, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:wly:canjec:v:53:y:2020:i:4:p:1523-1551
    DOI: 10.1111/caje.12475
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    2. Ben Atta, Oussama & Chort, Isabelle & Senne, Jean Noël, 2022. "Immigration, integration, and the informal economy in OECD countries," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1197, Global Labor Organization (GLO).

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