From Refugees to Citizens: Labor Market Returns to Naturalization

65 Pages Posted: 20 Dec 2023

See all articles by Francesco Fasani

Francesco Fasani

Queen Mary University of London

Tommaso Frattini

University of Milan

Maxime Pirot

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: June 10, 2024

Abstract

Is naturalization an effective tool to boost refugees' labor market integration? We address this novel empirical question by exploring survey data from 20 European countries and leveraging variation in citizenship laws across countries, time, and migrant groups as a source of exogenous variation in the probability of naturalization. We find that obtaining citizen status allows refugees to close their gaps in labor market outcomes relative to non-refugee migrants while having non-significant effects on the latter group. We then further explore the heterogeneity of returns to citizenship in a Marginal Treatment Effect framework, showing that migrants with the lowest propensity to naturalize would benefit the most if they did. This reverse selection on gains can be explained by policy features that make it harder for more vulnerable migrant groups to obtain citizenship, suggesting that a relaxation of eligibility constraints would yield benefits for both migrants and host societies.

Keywords: JEL Codes: J15, J61, F22 forced migration, citizenship, asylum policy

JEL Classification: J15; J61; F22

Suggested Citation

Fasani, Francesco and Frattini, Tommaso and Pirot, Maxime, From Refugees to Citizens: Labor Market Returns to Naturalization (June 10, 2024). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4654325 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4654325

Francesco Fasani (Contact Author)

Queen Mary University of London ( email )

Mile End Road
London, London E1 4NS
United Kingdom

Tommaso Frattini

University of Milan ( email )

Via Festa del Perdono, 7
Milan, 20122
Italy

Maxime Pirot

affiliation not provided to SSRN

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