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To become or not to become French: Conscription, naturalization, and labor market integration

Author

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  • Yajna Govind

    (Copenhaguen Business School, WIL - World Inequality Lab, IC Migrations - Institut Convergences Migrations - French Collaborative Institute on Migration [Aubervilliers])

  • Louis Sirugue

    (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, IC Migrations - Institut Convergences Migrations - French Collaborative Institute on Migration [Aubervilliers])

Abstract

We examine how changing the costs of acquiring citizenship translates into naturalization decisions for second-generation immigrants, and the effect of naturalization on their labor market outcomes. We exploit the abolition of mandatory military service in France as an exogenous reduction in the cost of citizenship for men. We find that the reform induced a jump in male naturalization rates, entirely driven by European Union citizens. Using a Synthetic Difference-inDifferences , we show that the probability of employment for EU males consequently increased by 2 percentage points, mainly through a reduction in inactivity rather than unemployment. We provide suggestive evidence that this effect is mainly driven by an increase in public-sector employment and a reduction in self-employment, and is associated with an enhanced sense of belonging.

Suggested Citation

  • Yajna Govind & Louis Sirugue, 2023. "To become or not to become French: Conscription, naturalization, and labor market integration," PSE Working Papers halshs-04423916, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:psewpa:halshs-04423916
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-04423916v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Angrist, Joshua D, 1990. "Lifetime Earnings and the Vietnam Era Draft Lottery: Evidence from Social Security Administrative Records," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 80(3), pages 313-336, June.
    2. repec:spo:wpmain:info:hdl:2441/45gqdl5l4387f9b9l12gr2g3kt is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Fize, Etienne & Louis-Sidois, Charles, 2020. "Military service and political behavior: Evidence from France," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
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    Cited by:

    1. Ziege, Elena, 2025. "Passport to progress: The effects of birthright citizenship on siblings’ education," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    2. Boustan, Leah & Jensen, Mathias Fjællegaard & Abramitzky, Ran & Jácome, Elisa & Manning, Alan & Pérez, Santiago & Watley, Analysia & Adermon, Adrian & Arellano-Bover, Jaime & Åslund, Olof & Connol, 2025. "Intergenerational mobility of immigrants in 15 destination countries," CEPR Discussion Papers 20003, Centre for Economic Policy Research.

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