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Language Training and Refugee Integration

Author

Listed:
  • Jacob Nielsen Arendt

    (The Rockwool Foundation’s Research Unit)

  • Iben Bolvig

    (The Danish Center for Social Science Research (VIVE))

  • Mette Foged

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Linea Hasager

    (University of Copenhagen)

  • Giovanni Peri

    (University of California, Davis)

Abstract

We evaluate a Danish reform focused on improving Danish language training for those granted refugee status on or after January 1, 1999. Using a Regression Discontinuity Design we find a significant, permanent, positive effect on earnings. This effect emerged after completion of language classes and was accompanied by additional schooling and higher probability of working in communication-intensive jobs, suggesting that language training, rather than other minor aspects of the reform, produced it. We also find evidence of higher completion rates of lower secondary school and lower probability of crime for male children with both parents exposed to the reform.

Suggested Citation

  • Jacob Nielsen Arendt & Iben Bolvig & Mette Foged & Linea Hasager & Giovanni Peri, 2021. "Language Training and Refugee Integration," RF Berlin - CReAM Discussion Paper Series 2104, Rockwool Foundation Berlin (RF Berlin) - Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM).
    • Handle: RePEc:crm:wpaper:2104
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    Cited by:

    1. Itoh, Ryo & Sato, Yasuhiro & Zenou, Yves, 2024. "Intergenerational assimilation of minorities: The role of the majority group," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    2. Ek, Simon & Hammarstedt, Mats & Skedinger, Per, 2021. "Low-Skilled Jobs, Language Proficiency and Refugee Integration: An Experimental Study," Working Paper Series 1398, Research Institute of Industrial Economics.
    3. Aksoy, Cevat Giray & Poutvaara, Panu & Schikora, Felicitas, 2023. "First time around: Local conditions and multi-dimensional integration of refugees," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    4. Ferwerda, Jeremy & Finseraas, Henning, 2022. "Do Integration Courses Promote Refugees’ Social and Political Integration? Evidence from Norway," OSF Preprints 87w6e, Center for Open Science.
    5. Demirci, Murat & Kırdar, Murat Güray, 2023. "The labor market integration of Syrian refugees in Turkey," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    6. Antonio Di Paolo & Bernat Mallén, 2022. ""Does geographical exposure to language learning centres matter in a bilingual city?"," IREA Working Papers 202205, University of Barcelona, Research Institute of Applied Economics, revised May 2022.
    7. Zenou, Yves & Biavaschi, Costanza & Giulietti, Corrado, 2021. "Social Networks and (Political) Assimilation in the Age of Mass Migration," CEPR Discussion Papers 16182, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    8. Hangartner, Dominik & Sarvimäki, Matti & Spirig, Judith, 2021. "Managing Refugee Protection Crises: Policy Lessons from Economics and Political Science," IZA Discussion Papers 14821, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    9. Hai‐Anh H. Dang & Trong‐Anh Trinh & Paolo Verme, 2023. "Do refugees with better mental health better integrate? Evidence from the Building a New Life in Australia longitudinal survey," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(12), pages 2819-2835, December.
    10. Jacob Nielsen Arendt, 2022. "Labor market effects of a work-first policy for refugees," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 35(1), pages 169-196, January.
    11. Dodini, Samuel & Willén, Alexander & Zhu, Julia Li, 2023. "The Role of Labor Unions in Immigrant Integration," Discussion Paper Series in Economics 24/2023, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Economics.
    12. Matilda Kilström & Birthe Larsen & Elisabet Olme, 2023. "Temporary refugee protection and labor-market outcomes," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 65(4), pages 1895-1929, October.
    13. Cheng, Zhiming & Wang, Ben Zhe & Jiang, Zhou & Taksa, Lucy & Tani, Massimiliano, 2020. "English Skills and Early Labour Market Integration: Evidence from Humanitarian Migrants in Australia," GLO Discussion Paper Series 672, Global Labor Organization (GLO).
    14. Jacob Nielsen Arendt & Christian Dustmann & Hyejin Ku, 2022. "Refugee migration and the labour market: lessons from 40 years of post-arrival policies in Denmark," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 38(3), pages 531-556.
    15. Gathmann, Christina & Garbers, Julio, 2023. "Citizenship and integration," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    16. Cheng, Zhiming & Wang, Ben Zhe & Jiang, Zhou & Taksa, Lucy & Tani, Massimiliano, 2020. "English Skills and Early Labour Market Integration of Humanitarian Migrants," IZA Discussion Papers 13728, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    17. Seonho Shin, 2022. "Evaluating the Effect of the Matching Grant Program for Refugees: An Observational Study Using Matching, Weighting, and the Mantel-Haenszel Test," Journal of Labor Research, Springer, vol. 43(1), pages 103-133, March.
    18. Simon Ek & Mats Hammarstedt & Per Skedinger, 2024. "Low‐skilled jobs, language proficiency, and job opportunities for refugees: an experimental study," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 126(2), pages 355-386, April.
    19. Zenou, Yves & Boucher, Vincent & Tumen, Semih & Vlassopoulos, Michael & Wahba, Jackline, 2020. "Ethnic Mixing in Early Childhood: Evidence from a Randomized Field Experiment and a Structural Model," CEPR Discussion Papers 15528, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    20. Balgova, Maria & Illing, Hannah, 2024. "The Labor Market Costs of Job Displacement by Migrant Status," IZA Discussion Papers 17496, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    21. Matti Sarvimäki & Hanna Pesola, 2022. "Intergenerational Spillovers of Integration Policies: Evidence from Finland’s Integration Plans," RF Berlin - CReAM Discussion Paper Series 2212, Rockwool Foundation Berlin (RF Berlin) - Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM).
    22. Zenou, Yves & Itoh, Ryo & Sato, Yasuhiro, 2021. "Intergenerational Assimilation of Minorities: The Role of the Majority Group," CEPR Discussion Papers 16830, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    23. Ferwerda, Jeremy & Finseraas, Henning, 2022. "Do Integration Courses Promote Refugees’ Social and Political Integration? Evidence from Norway," OSF Preprints 87w6e_v1, Center for Open Science.
    24. Balgova, Maria & Illing, Hannah, 2024. "The labour market costs of job displacement by migrant status," Bank of England working papers 1099, Bank of England.
    25. Pesola, Hanna Onerva & Sarvimäki, Matti, 2022. "Intergenerational Spillovers of Integration Policies: Evidence from Finland's Integration Plans," IZA Discussion Papers 15310, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Refugee Integration; Language Skills; Regression Discontinuity; Second Generation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J60 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - General
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • E64 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Incomes Policy; Price Policy
    • I30 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General

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