IMF Working Papers

Does an Inclusive Citizenship Law Promote Economic Development?

By Patrick A. Imam, Kangni R Kpodar

January 11, 2019

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Patrick A. Imam, and Kangni R Kpodar. Does an Inclusive Citizenship Law Promote Economic Development?, (USA: International Monetary Fund, 2019) accessed November 8, 2024

Disclaimer: IMF Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to encourage debate. The views expressed in IMF Working Papers are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF, its Executive Board, or IMF management.

Summary

This paper analyzes the impact of citizenship laws on economic development. We first document the evolution of citizenship laws around the world, highlighting the main features of jus soli, jus sanguinis as well as mixed regimes, and shedding light on the channels through which they could have differentiated impact on economic development. We then compile a data set of citizenship laws around the world. Using cross-country regressions, panel-data techniques, as well as the synthetic control method and subjecting the results to a battery of tests, we find robust evidence that jus soli laws—being more inclusive—lead to higher income levels than alternative citizenship rules in developing countries, though to a less extent in countries with stronger institutional environment.

Subject: Education, Legal support in revenue administration, Migration, National accounts, Personal income, Population and demographics, Revenue administration

Keywords: Citizenship law, Citizenship laws, Civil law, Civil law country, Common law country, Country authorities, Country of immigrant, Country's citizenship, Dummy variable, Economic development, Europe, Government activity, Law country, Legal origin, Legal support in revenue administration, Migration, Naturalization law, Personal income, Regime country, Sub-Saharan Africa, Sub-Saharan country, Western Hemisphere, Western Hemisphere country, WP

Publication Details

  • Pages:

    37

  • Volume:

    ---

  • DOI:

    ---

  • Issue:

    ---

  • Series:

    Working Paper No. 2019/003

  • Stock No:

    WPIEA2019003

  • ISBN:

    9781484383070

  • ISSN:

    1018-5941

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