The Effects of International Migration on the Well-Being of Native Populations in Europe

44 Pages Posted: 11 May 2013

See all articles by William Betz

William Betz

Colgate University

Nicole B. Simpson

Colgate University - Economics Department

Abstract

With worldwide migration becoming increasingly prevalent in policy agendas over the past several decades, understanding the effects that migrants have on a host country's population continues to be an important research agenda. There is a large literature documenting the effects that migrants have on native wages, tax burden, unemployment, etc. However, very little is understood about how migrants affect the happiness, or subjective well-being, of natives.This paper uses the European Social Survey to analyze the effects of aggregate immigration inflows on the subjective well-being of native-born populations in a panel of 26 countries between 2002 and 2010. We find that recent immigrant flows have a nonlinear, yet overall positive impact on the well-being of natives. Specifically, we find that immigrant flows from two years prior have larger positive effects on natives' well-being than immigrant inflows from one year prior. Our findings are very small in magnitude and in practical application; only large immigrant flows would affect native well-being significantly.

Keywords: international migration, happiness, life satisfaction

JEL Classification: F22, I31, O15

Suggested Citation

Betz, William and Simpson, Nicole, The Effects of International Migration on the Well-Being of Native Populations in Europe. IZA Discussion Paper No. 7368, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2263644 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2263644

William Betz (Contact Author)

Colgate University ( email )

No Address Available

Nicole Simpson

Colgate University - Economics Department ( email )

13 Oak Drive
Hamilton, NY 13346
United States
315-228-7991 (Phone)

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