The Impact of Naturalisation on Immigrant Labour Market Integration in Germany and Switzerland

Author(s) : Max Friedrich Steinhardt

Source : http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264099104-8-en

Abstract:

One of the main issues in the recent discussion concerning the integration of immigrants into host country societies is the act of naturalisation. The most controversial question is hereby whether the acquisition of citizenship is an instrument for enhancing integration or rather a certification of a successful integration process. However, a simple look at the citizenship laws across countries demonstrates that the answer is not straightforward. On the one hand, immigrants have to fulfil a number of requirements ex ante which are all related to the issue of integration before they are allowed to naturalise (e.g. minimum time of residency, citizenship test, language requirements, etc.). These legal requirements will not only affect the quantitative dimension, but also the socio-economic structure of naturalised immigrants. In general, they tend to favour immigrants who have acquired some knowledge about the host country and its language, and who are

employed or have enough money to live without welfare transfers. On the other hand, naturalisation is connected to a number of socio-economic rights like unrestricted access to the labour market, enfranchisement to vote, permanent legal status, or increased mobility. The acquisition of these rights is likely to accelerate the integration process ex post naturalisation.