Citizenship Laws and International Migration in Historical Perspective

56 Pages Posted: 14 Oct 2004

See all articles by Graziella Bertocchi

Graziella Bertocchi

Università di Modena; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance (EIEF); Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Chiara Strozzi

Università Degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE) - Faculty of Business and Economics; IZA Institute of Labor Economics

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Date Written: May 2005

Abstract

We investigate the origin, impact and evolution of citizenship laws. Citizenship laws originate from the common and civil law traditions, which apply jus soli and jus sanguinis, respectively. We compile a data set across countries of the world starting from the 19th century. The impact of the original, exogenously-given laws on international migration proves insignificant for the early, mass migration waves, which confirm to be driven primarily by economic incentives. Postwar convergence of citizenship laws is determined by legal tradition and international migration, but also by border stability, the establishment of democracy, the welfare burden, cultural factors and colonial history.

Keywords: Citizenship laws, legal rules, international migration, democracy, borders

JEL Classification: F22, K40, N30, O15

Suggested Citation

Bertocchi, Graziella and Strozzi, Chiara, Citizenship Laws and International Migration in Historical Perspective (May 2005). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=603542 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.603542

Graziella Bertocchi (Contact Author)

Università di Modena; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) ( email )

Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance (EIEF)

Rome, 00187
Italy

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

London
United Kingdom

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Schaumburg-Lippe-Str. 7 / 9
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Chiara Strozzi

Università Degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE) - Faculty of Business and Economics ( email )

Viale Berengario 51
41100 Modena, Modena 41100
Italy

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

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