Decomposing Welfare Wedges: An Analysis of Welfare Dependence of Immigrants and Natives in Europe

Huber, Peter; Oberdabernig, Doris Anita (2016). Decomposing Welfare Wedges: An Analysis of Welfare Dependence of Immigrants and Natives in Europe. Kyklos, 69(1), pp. 82-107. Wiley-Blackwell

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In the past few decades, the European Union (EU) has experienced a steady increase in the share of immigrants residing on its territory, and immigration has become the primary source of population growth (Eurostat 2011). Some analysts (e.g. Razin and Sadka 1999; Zimmermann 2008) argue that this development is beneficial for European welfare states as immigrants generate additional revenues to finance the increasing welfare expenditures related to population aging. This call for increased immigration is, however, somewhat at odds with the fear of many Europeans (documented by Boeri 2010) that immigrants are a fiscal burden on the welfare state. This may be the case if – as is often claimed in the public debate – immigrants have access to cash transfers beyond what eligibility rules would imply. Alternatively, this may occur if immigrants are poorer than natives, have other personal characteristics that make them more likely to benefit from social transfers or if, as maintained by the welfare magnet hypothesis (Borjas 1999), poorer or less able immigrants are disproportionately strongly attracted by the more generous European welfare systems.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

03 Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences > Other Institutions > Teaching Staff, Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences
02 Faculty of Law > Department of Economic Law > World Trade Institute
10 Strategic Research Centers > World Trade Institute

02 Faculty of Law > Department of Economic Law > NCCR International Trade Regulation

UniBE Contributor:

Oberdabernig, Doris Anita

Subjects:

300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 340 Law
300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 380 Commerce, communications & transportation
300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 330 Economics

ISSN:

0023-5962

Publisher:

Wiley-Blackwell

Language:

English

Submitter:

Pablo Rahul Das

Date Deposited:

18 Oct 2016 17:14

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:59

Related URLs:

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.89218

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/89218

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