Citizenship Laws and International Migration in Historical Perspective

Bertocchi, Graziella; Strozzi, Chiara

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Citizenship Laws and International Migration in Historical Perspective

48 Pages Posted: 31 Jan 2005

See all articles by Graziella Bertocchi

Graziella Bertocchi

Università di Modena; Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance (EIEF); Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR); IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Chiara Strozzi

Università Degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE) - Faculty of Business and Economics; IZA Institute of Labor Economics

There are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: November 2004

Abstract

We investigate the origin, impact and evolution of citizenship laws. Citizenship laws originate from the common and civil law traditions, which apply jus soli and jus sanguinis, respectively. We compile a dataset across countries of the world starting from the 19th century. The impact of the original, exogenously-given laws on international migration proves insignificant for the early, mass migration waves, which confirm to be driven primarily by economic incentives. Postwar convergence of citizenship laws is determined by legal tradition and international migration, but also by border stability, the establishment of democracy, the welfare burden, cultural factors and colonial history.

Keywords: Citizenship laws, international migration, legal origins, democracy, borders

JEL Classification: F22, K40, N30, O15

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Bertocchi, Graziella and Strozzi, Chiara, Citizenship Laws and International Migration in Historical Perspective (November 2004). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=653843