Labor Market Laws and Intra-European Migration: The Role of the State in Shaping Destination Choices

John Palmer () and Mariola Pytlikova
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John Palmer: Princeton University

No 2013015, Norface Discussion Paper Series from Norface Research Programme on Migration, Department of Economics, University College London

Abstract: This article investigates the relationship between migrants' destination choices and the formal labor market access a fforded by multiple potential host countries in the context of the EU's eastward enlargement. We use an index of labor market access laws combined with data on migration from new EU member states into the existing states of the EU and EFTA from 2004 through 2010 to test whether (1) migrants are attracted to destinations that give them greater formal labor market access, and (2) migration flows to any given destination are influenced by the labor market policies of competing destinations. Our data support both propositions: Migration between origin/destination pairs was positively associated with the loosening of destination labor market restrictions while negatively associated with the loosening of competing destinations' labor market restrictions. These relationships hold even when economic indicators, social welfare spending, and existing immigrant stocks are modeled. By combining rich EU data with a unique approach to evaluating competing legal regimes, the analysis helps us better understand how law shapes migration in a multidestination world.

Date: 2013-05
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eur, nep-lab and nep-mig
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Labor Market Laws and Intra-European Migration: The Role of the State in Shaping Destination Choices (2013)
Working Paper: Labor Market Laws and Intra-European Migration: The Role of the State in Shaping Destination Choices (2013)
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