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Optimal discretion in asylum lawmaking

Author

Listed:
  • Jenny Monheim-Helstroffer

    (CREA - Center for Research in Economic Analysis - uni.lu - Université du Luxembourg = University of Luxembourg = Universität Luxemburg)

  • Marie Obidzinski

    (CRESE - Centre de REcherches sur les Stratégies Economiques (UR 3190) - UFC - Université de Franche-Comté - UBFC - Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté [COMUE])

Abstract

This paper develops a regulatory competition model to study whether and how refugee law should be centralized, and what are the consequences for refugees and for host countries. Varying refugee flows across countries lead some destinations to adopt strict measures. The resulting externality leads to a generalized "race to the bottom" of asylum law. Neither fixed nor minimum standard harmonization are found to be in the interest of both host countries. Especially the most popular destinations like EU border countries would suffer from losing discretion. However, minimum standards would benefit refugees and less popular destinations.

Suggested Citation

  • Jenny Monheim-Helstroffer & Marie Obidzinski, 2010. "Optimal discretion in asylum lawmaking," Post-Print hal-00447157, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-00447157
    DOI: 10.1016/j.irle.2009.09.004
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-00447157v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jenny Monheim-Helstroffer & Marie Obidzinski, 2011. "The EU legislation game: the case of asylum law," Working Papers of BETA 2011-16, Bureau d'Economie Théorique et Appliquée, UDS, Strasbourg.
    2. Crettez B. & Deffains B. & Musy O., 2010. "On Legal Cooperation and the Dynamics of Legal Convergence," Working Papers ERMES 1013, ERMES, University Paris 2.
    3. Loeper, Antoine, 2013. "Federal Directives, Local Discretion and the Majority Rule," Quarterly Journal of Political Science, now publishers, vol. 8(1), pages 41-74, January.
    4. 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.
    5. Veshi Denard, 2020. "The EU Regulatory Competition in Asylum Law," Central European Journal of Public Policy, Sciendo, vol. 14(1), pages 19-30, June.
    6. Baniak Andrzej & Grajzl Peter, 2011. "Interjurisdictional Linkages and the Scope for Interventionist Legal Harmonization," Review of Law & Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 7(2), pages 405-434, December.
    7. Monheim, Jenny, 2007. "Strategic asylum law making in Europe: institutional locus," CSLE Discussion Paper Series 2007-02, Saarland University, CSLE - Center for the Study of Law and Economics.
    8. Yuji Tamura, 2017. "Asylum providers: Hawks or Doves?," CEPR Discussion Papers 699, Centre for Economic Policy Research, Research School of Economics, Australian National University.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Competition in law making; Asylum law; European law; Flexible law; Human rights;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • K33 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - International Law
    • H11 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • D61 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Allocative Efficiency; Cost-Benefit Analysis
    • D62 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Externalities

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