Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/96691 
Year of Publication: 
2014
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 8064
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
Immigrants in many countries have lower employment rates and lower earnings than natives. In this paper, we ask whether a more liberal access to citizenship can improve the economic integration of immigrants. Our analysis relies on two major immigration reforms in Germany, a country with a relatively weak record of immigrant assimilation. For identification, we exploit discontinuities in the reforms' eligibility rules. Between 1991 and 1999, adolescents could obtain citizenship after eight years of residency in Germany, while adults faced a 15-year residency requirement. Since 2000, all immigrants face an 8-year residency requirement. OLS estimates show a positive correlation between naturalization and labor market performance. Based on the eligibility rules, we find few returns of citizenship for men, but substantial returns for women. Returns are also larger for more recent immigrants, but essentially zero for traditional guest workers. Overall, liberalization of citizenship provides some benefits in the labor market but is unlikely to result in full economic and social integration of immigrants in the host country.
Subjects: 
citizenship
assimilation
language
welfare
Germany
JEL: 
J24
J31
J61
K37
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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