Should I Stay or Must I Go? Temporary Refugee Protection and Labor-Market Outcomes

Matilda Kilström, Birthe Larsen, Elisabet Olme

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperResearchpeer-review

Abstract

We study a Danish reform in 2002 that lowered the ex-ante probability of refugees receiving permanent residency by prolonging the time period before they were eligible to apply for such residency. Adherence to the new rules was entirely determined by the date of the asylum application and the reform was implemented retroactively. We formulate a simple search and matching model to derive predictions that can be tested using our data. Using registry based data on individuals in Denmark, we then study the effects on educational and labor-market outcomes and find that the reform significantly increased the enrollment in formal education, especially for females and low-skilled individuals. In terms of employment and earnings, the coefficients are in general negative but insignificant. Other outcomes of interest are also studied. The reform led to a decrease in criminal activity driven by a reduction among males. There are no effects on health outcomes and a significant but relatively small reduction in childbearing for females. The results do not seem to be driven by selection, since the reform had no significant effect on the share of refugees that stayed in Denmark in the long run.
Original languageEnglish
Publication date2019
Number of pages65
Publication statusPublished - 2019
EventThe 3rd Nordic Challenges Conference - Copenhagen Business School, Frederiksberg, Denmark
Duration: 6 Mar 20198 Mar 2019
Conference number: 3
https://www.tilmeld.dk/thirdnordicchallenges

Conference

ConferenceThe 3rd Nordic Challenges Conference
Number3
LocationCopenhagen Business School
Country/TerritoryDenmark
CityFrederiksberg
Period06/03/201908/03/2019
Internet address

Keywords

  • Refugees
  • Human capital
  • Immigration
  • Employment
  • Search

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