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Integration policy and refugees’ economic performance: Evidence from Sweden’s 2010 reform of the introduction programme

Year: 2021

Type: article

Abstract: In this paper, we investigate whether integration policy improves refugees’ economic performance, specifically examining the effects on refugees’ income of Sweden's 2010 reform of the introduction programme (or IP). We also evaluate how the reform effects vary depending on refugees’ gender and educational attainment. Our key finding shows a strong positive effect of the reform on refugees’ income, immediately after the completion of the IP. More importantly, this positive effect intensifies over time, with no signs of diminishing, which implies a longer‐term effect of the reform. Furthermore, the effects of the reform do not significantly vary between men and women or between the highly educated and the less‐educated, suggesting that the new Swedish IP benefits refugees to the same extent, regardless of their gender and educational attainment.

Source: International Migration

DOI: 10.1111/imig.12813

Authors: Haodong Qi, Nahikari Irastorza, Henrik Emilsson, Pieter Bevelander

Institutions: Stockholm University, Malmö University

Language: English

Topic: Migration, Refugees, and Integration

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Reduced inequalities, Decent work and economic growth, No poverty, Peace, justice, and strong institutions

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,750