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Immigration Policy, Assimilation of Immigrants and Natives' Sentiments towards Immigrants: Evidence from 12 OECD-Countries

Author Info

Listed author(s):
  • Bauer, Thomas K.

    ()

    (RWI)

  • Lofstrom, Magnus

    ()

    (Public Policy Institute of California)

  • Zimmermann, Klaus F.

    ()

    (University of Bonn)

Abstract

As in the U.S. and Canada, migration is a controversial issue in Europe. This paper explores the possibility that immigration policy may affect the labor market assimilation of immigrants and hence natives’ sentiments towards immigrants. It first reviews the assimilation literature in economics and the policy approaches taken in Europe and among the traditional immigration countries. Second, a new analysis of individual data from the OECD countries studies sentiments concerning immigration and the determinants of these sentiments is presented. Natives in countries that receive predominantly refugee migrants are relatively more concerned with immigrations impact on social issues such as crime than on the employment effects. Natives in countries with mostly economic migrants are relatively more concerned about loosing jobs to immigrants. However, the results also suggest that natives may view immigration more favorably if immigrants are selected according to the needs of the labor markets. Possible benefits of such a policy are that it may moderate social tensions in regards to migration and contribute to a better economic performance of the respective countries.

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Paper provided by Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA) in its series IZA Discussion Papers with number 187.

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Length: 47 pages
Date of creation: Aug 2000
Publication status: published in: Swedish Economic Policy Review, 2000, 7 (2), 11-53; see IZA Reprints 87/01
Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp187
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Keywords: European migration policies; Assimilation of migrants; sentiments towards migrants;

Find related papers by JEL classification:

  • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
  • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration

References listed on IDEAS
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