TY - JOUR
T1 - Spillover effects of stricter immigration policies
AU - Bratu, Cristina
AU - Dahlberg, Matz
AU - Engdahl, Mattias
AU - Nikolka, Till
PY - 2020/10
Y1 - 2020/10
N2 - We provide evidence for the existence of spillover effects of national immigration policies by estimating the effect of stricter family reunification rules in Denmark on migration behavior. We reach three main conclusions. Using Danish register data, we first show that stricter rules for reunification led to a clear and significant increase in emigration of Danish citizens with immigrant background. Most of the emigrants left Denmark for Sweden, a neighboring country in which reunification was possible. Next, using Swedish register data, we find that affected individuals emigrating to Sweden actually came for family formation purposes. Finally, we demonstrate that not all individuals that came to Sweden to reunite with a partner stayed in the country; of those leaving, return migration to Denmark was most common. Our results indicate that potential spillover effects from national migration policies should be taken into account when forming migration policy.
AB - We provide evidence for the existence of spillover effects of national immigration policies by estimating the effect of stricter family reunification rules in Denmark on migration behavior. We reach three main conclusions. Using Danish register data, we first show that stricter rules for reunification led to a clear and significant increase in emigration of Danish citizens with immigrant background. Most of the emigrants left Denmark for Sweden, a neighboring country in which reunification was possible. Next, using Swedish register data, we find that affected individuals emigrating to Sweden actually came for family formation purposes. Finally, we demonstrate that not all individuals that came to Sweden to reunite with a partner stayed in the country; of those leaving, return migration to Denmark was most common. Our results indicate that potential spillover effects from national migration policies should be taken into account when forming migration policy.
KW - Family reunification
KW - International migration
KW - Migration policy
KW - Spillover effects of public policies
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85089284975&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2020.104239
DO - 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2020.104239
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85089284975
SN - 0047-2727
VL - 190
JO - JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS
JF - JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS
M1 - 104239
ER -