Citizenship Laws and International Migration in Historical Perspective
Date
01.01.2005
01.01.2005
Authors
Graziella Bertocchi, Chiara Strozzi
JEL Code
F22,K40,N30,O15
F22,K40,N30,O15
Keywords:
Citizenship laws,International migration,Legal origins,Democracy,Borders
Citizenship laws,International migration,Legal origins,Democracy,Borders
Publisher
Economy and Society
Economy and Society
Editor
Gianmarco I.P. Ottaviano
Gianmarco I.P. Ottaviano
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 data set 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.