Immigrant Performance and Selective Immigration Policy: A European Perspective

29 Pages Posted: 26 Aug 2005

See all articles by Amelie F. Constant

Amelie F. Constant

Princeton University; UNU-MERIT; CESifo; University of Pennsylvania

Klaus F. Zimmermann

Global Labor Organization (GLO); UNU-MERIT; Maastricht University, Department of Economics; Free University Berlin; University of Bonn; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); Journal of Population Economics

Date Written: August 2005

Abstract

The European Union aims at a stronger participation by its population in work to foster growth and welfare. There are concerns about the attachment of immigrants to the labour force, and discussions about the necessary policy responses. Integrated labour and migration policies are needed. The employment chances of the low-skilled are limited. Whereas Europe could benefit from a substantive immigration policy that imposes selection criteria that are more in line with economic needs, the substantial immigration into the European Union follows largely non-economic motives. This paper discusses the economic rationale of a selective immigration policy and provides empirical evidence about the adverse effects of current selection mechanisms.

Keywords: migration policy, ethnicity, migrant workers, asylum seekers, family reunification

JEL Classification: F22, J15, J31, J61, J68, J82

Suggested Citation

Constant, Amelie F. and Zimmermann, Klaus F., Immigrant Performance and Selective Immigration Policy: A European Perspective (August 2005). IZA Discussion Paper No. 1715, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=789444 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.789444

Amelie F. Constant

Princeton University ( email )

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Princeton, NJ 08544
United States

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UNU-MERIT ( email )

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Netherlands

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CESifo ( email )

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Germany

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University of Pennsylvania ( email )

Philadelphia, PA 19104
United States

Klaus F. Zimmermann (Contact Author)

Global Labor Organization (GLO) ( email )

Bonn
Germany

HOME PAGE: http://https://glabor.org/

UNU-MERIT ( email )

Keizer Karelplein 19
Maastricht, 6211TC
Netherlands

Maastricht University, Department of Economics ( email )

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Maastricht, Limburg 6200MD
Netherlands

University of Bonn

Postfach 2220
Bonn, D-53012
Germany

Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

London
United Kingdom

Journal of Population Economics

Tiergartenstr. 17
D-69121 Heidelberg
Germany

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