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Disparities in Social Assistance Receipt between Immigrants and Natives in Sweden

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  • Gustafsson, Björn Anders

    (Göteborg University)

Abstract

Social assistance receipt among immigrants in relation to receipt among natives in Sweden is investigated. A background of how the system is constructed is provided, statistical information reported, the literature surveyed and key results interpreted. Most out-payment for social assistance in Sweden refers to foreign born persons although the category makes up 14 percent of the population. While some part of the high costs can be attributed to needs to maintaining recent refugees, this is not the entire story. Immigrants tend to assimilate out of social assistance receipt. However, receipt continues to be higher than among in several characteristics identical natives many years after immigration among immigrants from not rich countries. The elevated probabilities of social assistance receipt among immigrants from not rich countries are mainly due to failures of integrating into the labor market at the destination.

Suggested Citation

  • Gustafsson, Björn Anders, 2011. "Disparities in Social Assistance Receipt between Immigrants and Natives in Sweden," IZA Discussion Papers 6129, IZA Network @ LISER.
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp6129
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Goldschmidt, Tina & Rydgren, Jens, 2018. "Social distance, immigrant integration, and welfare chauvinism in Sweden," Discussion Papers, Research Unit: Migration, Integration, Transnationalization SP VI 2018-102, WZB Berlin Social Science Center.
    2. Daniela Andrén & Thomas Andrén & Martin Kahanec, 2025. "Structural State Dependence in Social Assistance through the Lens of Couples’ Ethnic Composition. Evidence from Swedish Panel Data," Discussion Papers 72, Central European Labour Studies Institute (CELSI).
    3. Sebastian Königs, 2015. "Micro-level dynamics of social assistance receipt. Evidence from 4 European countries," Discussion Papers 797, Statistics Norway, Research Department.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • J15 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Minorities, Races, Indigenous Peoples, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination

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