Conceptualizing and Measuring Immigration Policies: A Comparative Perspective

International Migration Review, Forthcoming

46 Pages Posted: 12 Apr 2014 Last revised: 25 Apr 2014

See all articles by Liv Bjerre

Liv Bjerre

WZB Berlin Social Science Center

Marc Helbling

University of Mannheim

Friederike Roemer

WZB Berlin Social Science Center

Malisa Zobel

WZB Berlin Social Science Center

Date Written: April 9, 2014

Abstract

In the last decade, researchers have developed many innovative ideas for the construction of indices measuring immigration policies. Methodological considerations have, however, been largely absent from the discussion. To close this gap, this paper investigates the characteristics of existing indices by critically comparing and discussing them. We start by providing a defi-nition of immigration policy which may serve as a benchmark when assessing the indices. By means of the analytical framework developed by Munck and Verkuilen (2002), which we adapt and customize for our analysis, we then evaluate the conceptualization, measurement, and aggregation, as well as the empirical scope of thirteen immigration policy indices. We discuss methodological strengths and weaknesses of the indices, how these affect the research questions that can be answered and what the next steps in index building within the field of immigration policy should be.

Keywords: Immigration Policies, Indices

JEL Classification: F22

Suggested Citation

Bjerre, Liv and Helbling, Marc and Roemer, Friederike and Zobel, Malisa, Conceptualizing and Measuring Immigration Policies: A Comparative Perspective (April 9, 2014). International Migration Review, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2423075

Liv Bjerre

WZB Berlin Social Science Center ( email )

Reichpietschufer 50
D-10785 Berlin, 10785
Germany

Marc Helbling (Contact Author)

University of Mannheim ( email )

A5, 6
Mannheim, 68159
Germany

Friederike Roemer

WZB Berlin Social Science Center ( email )

Reichpietschufer 50
D-10785 Berlin, 10785
Germany

Malisa Zobel

WZB Berlin Social Science Center ( email )

Reichpietschufer 50
D-10785 Berlin, 10785
Germany

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
283
Abstract Views
1,555
Rank
195,469
PlumX Metrics