Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/130350 
Year of Publication: 
2016
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 9666
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
We develop a model to understand the trade-offs faced by an elected representative in supporting an amnesty when a restrictive immigration policy is in place. We show that an amnesty is more desirable the more restricted are the occupational opportunities of undocumented immigrants and the less redistributive is the welfare state. Empirical evidence based on the voting behavior of U.S. Congressmen on the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 provides strong support for the predictions of our theoretical model.
Subjects: 
migration policy
amnesties
democracy
roll call votes
JEL: 
F22
O51
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
900.11 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.