The Welfare Magnet Hypothesis: Evidence From an Immigrant Welfare Scheme in Denmark

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningfagfællebedømt

We study the effects of welfare generosity on international migration using reforms of im- migrant welfare benefits in Denmark. The first reform, implemented in 2002, lowered benefits for non-EU immigrants by about 50%, with no changes for natives or EU immigrants. The pol- icy was later repealed and re-introduced. Based on a quasi-experimental research design, we find sizeable effects: the benefit reduction reduced the net flow of immigrants by about 5,000 people per year, and the subsequent repeal of the policy reversed the effect almost exactly. The implied elasticity of migration with respect to benefits equals 1.3. This represents some of the first causal evidence on the welfare magnet hypothesis.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftAmerican Economic Review: Insights
Vol/bind2
Udgave nummer4
Sider (fra-til)527–542
ISSN2640-205X
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 1 dec. 2020

ID: 244917155