Migration Flows and Policies in Italy and in other European Countries

Abstract

Against a backdrop of ageing and declining domestic labour force, immigration to Italy has slowed down since the Great Recession, reducing its contribution to the country’s demographic and economic dynamics compared to major euro area economies. This paper adopts a comparative perspective to analyse Italy’s capacity to effectively attract and integrate immigrants. It examines the underlying factors driving these trends and explores how they relate to Italy’s economic structure and regulatory framework. The analysis highlights the important role that migrants play in the labour market, where they are typically concentrated in low-paying jobs and sectors, and reviews the main features of Italy’s migration policies, evaluating their key characteristics and effectiveness against international standards.

Keywords: immigration, demography, earnings, citizenship, integration

JEL Classification: J11, J15, J21, J31, J61, K37