Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP14041
Authors: Bernt Bratsberg; Giovanni Facchini; Tommaso Frattini; Anna Rosso
Abstract: Economic incentives play a key role in the decision to run for office, but little is known on how they shape immigrants' selection into candidacy. We study this question using a two-period Roy model and show that if returns to labour market experience are higher for migrants than natives, migrants will be less likely to seek office than natives. We empirically assess this prediction using administrative data from Norway, a country with a very liberal regime for participation in local elections. Our results strongly support our theoretical model and indicate that immigrants' political and economic integration are closely intertwined.
Keywords: immigration; local elections; candidacy decision; labour markets
JEL Codes: F22; J45; P16
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Higher returns to labor market experience for immigrants (J69) | Lower likelihood of immigrants seeking office (K37) |
| Higher returns to labor market experience for immigrants (J69) | Greater opportunity cost of running for office for immigrants (K37) |
| Educational level increases (I24) | Decrease in immigrant-native differential in the probability of seeking office (J79) |
| Higher educational attainment (I23) | Narrowing of the gap in candidacy rates between natives and immigrants (J69) |
| Economic incentives (M52) | Political participation among immigrants (K37) |
| Demand side influences (political parties) (D72) | Candidacy outcomes (D79) |