Naturalisation: A Passport for the Better Integration of Immigrants?

This publication takes stock of the current knowledge regarding the links between host-country nationality and the socio-economic integration of immigrants and their children, building on novel evidence on this issue. It also discusses the role of naturalisation as a tool in the overall framework for immigration and integration policy, with the aim of identifying good practices from the different experiences of EU and OECD countries.





Table of Contents

Main findings of the Joint EC/OECD Seminar on Naturaliastion and the Socio-Economic Integration of Immigrants and their Children by Thomas Liebig
PART I. NATURALISATION AND THE LABOUR MARKET OUTCOMES OF IMMIGRANTS: AN OVERVIEW
Chapter 1. Citizenship and the Socio-economic Integration of Immigrants and their Children: An Overview across EU and OECD Countries by Thomas Liebig and Friederike Von Haaren
-Introduction
-1.1. Citizenship take-up among immigrants
-1.2. The labour market outcomes of naturalised and non-naturalised immigrants
-1.3. Labour market outcomes of children of immigrants and the association with host-country nationality
-1.4. The impact of naturalisation on immigrants’ labour market outcomes
-1.5. Conclusions
-Annex 1.A1. Methodology
-Annex 1.A2. Supplementary tables
Chapter 2. The Current Status of Nationality Law by Nicole Guimezanes
-Introduction
-2.1. Dual nationality
-2.2. Acquisition of nationality at birth
-2.3. Acquisition of nationality by naturalisation
-2.4. Other ways of acquiring nationality
-2.5. Loss of nationality
-2.6. Conclusions
-Annex 2.A1. The main laws on nationality
Annex 2.A2. Supplementary tables

PART II. THE IMPACT OF NATURALISATION ON IMMIGRANTS' LABOUR MARKET INTEGRATION: EXPERIENCE FROM EU AND OECD COUNTRIES
Chapter 3. The Impact of Naturalisation on Labour Market Outcomes in Sweden by Mattias Engdahl
-Introduction
-3.1. General framework on benefits and costs of acquiring Swedish citizenship
-3.2. Data, sample restrictions and empirical specification
-3.3. Labour market outcomes
-3.4. Conclusions
-Annex 3.A1. Variable definitions
-Annex 3.A2. Tables
Chapter 4. How Acquring French Citizenship Affects Immigrant Employment by Denis Fougère and Mirna Safi
-Introduction
-4.1. The acquisition of citizenship and labour market integration in France
-4.2. Measuring the association between naturalisation and immigrants’ access to employment
-4.3. Conclusions
Chapter 5. The Impact of Naturalisation on Immigrant Labour Market Integration in Germany and Switzerland by Max Friedrich Steinhardt
-Introduction
-5.1. Germany
-5.2. Switzerland
Chapter 6. Citizenship Acquisition in Canada and the United States: Determinants and Economic Benefit by Garnett Picot and Feng Hou
-Introduction
-6.1. Becoming a citizen of Canada or the United States
-6.2. Does citizenship acquisition improve economic outcomes?
-6.3. The determinants of naturalisation
-6.4. The rise of a naturalisation rate gap between Canada and the United States
-6.5. Conclusions
Chapter 7. The Labour Market Outcomes of Naturalised Citizens in Norway by Bernt Bratsberg and Oddbjørn Raaum
-Introduction
-7.1. Potential gains and losses from host-country citizenship
-7.2. Data
-7.3. Empirical analysis
-7.4. Discussion
-7.5. Conclusions

PART III. NATURALISATION AND SOCIAL COHESION
Chapter 8. Social Cohesion and Host Country Nationality among Immigrants in Western Europe by Christel Kesler and Neli Demireva
-Introduction
-8.1. Social capital, social cohesion, diversity and citizenship acquisition 8.2. Data source and variables
-8.3. Empirical results
-8.4. Conclusions
-Annex 8.A1. Number of immigrants in the sample
-Annex 8.A2. Additional coefficients
Chapter 9. Naturalisation and Social Inclusion by Pieter Bevelander
-Introduction
-9.1. Social inclusion
-9.2. Consequences of naturalisation
-9.3. Migrant voting: earlier studies
-9.4. Citizenship and voting
-9.5. Conclusions
-Annex 9.A1. Regression results on voting for Swedish residents
Chapter 10. Integration and Access to Nationality in EU Member Countries by Yves Pascouau and Philippe De Bruycker
-Introduction
-10.1. Quantitative approach
-10.2. Knowledge of the language
-10.3. Knowledge of the host society
-10.4. National diversity and European co-ordination
Chapter 11. Naturalisation and the Promotion of the Social Integration of Immigrants in Quebec by Yvan Turcotte
-Introduction
-11.1. Immigration policies aimed at permanent settlement
-11.2. The right of permanent residence and citizenship
-11.3. Access to citizenship: an indicator of integration?
-11.4. Social participation
-11.5. Conclusion: a paradox

PART IV. THE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN NATURALISATION POLICY AND OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE NATIONAL INTEGRATION POLICY MIX
Chapter 12. Policy Interactions in Belgium by Mélanie Knott and Altay Manço
-Introduction
-12.1. Obtaining Belgian nationality through naturalisation: changing conditions
-12.2. Integration and the various indicators for measuring it
-12.3. Conclusion: is naturalisation a means of integration?
Chapter 13. The Legal Frameword on Economic Migration and Naturalisation in the United Kingdom by Chris Hedges
-Introduction
-13.1. Legislative summary
-13.2. Legal provisions in relation to grants of British citizenship
-13.3. Definitions
-13.4. Statistical summary
-3.5. Basis of grant
-3.6. Renunciation of British citizenship
-3.7. Reasons for refusal
-Annex 13.A1. Brief summary of the relevant provisions
Chapter 14. Citizenship in Australia by David Smith, Sanuki Jayarajah, Taya Fabjianic and Janice Wykes
-Introduction
14.1. History of Australian migration, integration and citizenship policies (1900 to present)
-14.2. Citizenship conferrals
-14.3. Characteristics of citizens
-14.4. Variation by birthplace
-14.5. Variation by years since arrival
-14.6. Variation by birthplace and years since arrival
-14.7. The relationship between citizenship and labour market outcomes
-14.8. Do their jobs differ?
-14.9. Impact of the length of stay on the labour market performance
-14.10. Conclusions
Chapter 15. From Assisting to Requiring Integration: Selective Citizenship Policies in the Netherlands by Kees Groenendijk
-Introduction
-15.1. Policy on immigrant integration: twice a new paradigm
-15.2. Acquisition of nationality by naturalisation: restriction, liberalisation, restriction
-15.3. Effects of new rules and tests: numbers and selection
-15.4. The recent close relation between integration and naturalisation policy
-15.5. Effects of naturalisation and integration policy on immigrant integration

Available in French - "La naturalisation: un passeport pour une meilleure intégration des immigrés ?":