Executive summary: This exploratory analysis reviews causal evidence on the relationship between immigration and crime in several European countries, finding little to no effect in the UK and Italy, mixed results in Germany, and limited data for France and Belgium, while suggesting that secure legal status and access to employment significantly reduce immigrant crime rates.
Key points:
UK findings: Migrants are underrepresented in UK prisons, and while causal studies show little evidence of either increased or decreased crime due to immigration, the overall effect of large migration waves appears neutral on crime rates.
Germany’s mixed evidence: Though immigrants—especially recent Syrian refugees—are overrepresented in prisons, studies diverge on whether immigration has increased crime, with some evidence suggesting any rise in crime is primarily among migrant communities rather than affecting native-born citizens.
Italy and legal status: While aggregate effects of immigration on crime are negligible, a key study shows that legalizing undocumented immigrants significantly reduced their crime rates, likely due to improved employment opportunities and greater personal stakes in avoiding criminal charges.
France and Belgium: The author found insufficient recent causal evidence to assess the impact of immigration on crime in these countries.
General conclusion: Crime among immigrants is closely linked to economic opportunity; policies that provide legal status and integrate migrants into labor markets may effectively reduce criminal behavior.
Policy implication: Governments concerned about crime might achieve better outcomes by improving immigrants’ access to lawful employment rather than restricting migration per se.
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Executive summary: This exploratory analysis reviews causal evidence on the relationship between immigration and crime in several European countries, finding little to no effect in the UK and Italy, mixed results in Germany, and limited data for France and Belgium, while suggesting that secure legal status and access to employment significantly reduce immigrant crime rates.
Key points:
UK findings: Migrants are underrepresented in UK prisons, and while causal studies show little evidence of either increased or decreased crime due to immigration, the overall effect of large migration waves appears neutral on crime rates.
Germany’s mixed evidence: Though immigrants—especially recent Syrian refugees—are overrepresented in prisons, studies diverge on whether immigration has increased crime, with some evidence suggesting any rise in crime is primarily among migrant communities rather than affecting native-born citizens.
Italy and legal status: While aggregate effects of immigration on crime are negligible, a key study shows that legalizing undocumented immigrants significantly reduced their crime rates, likely due to improved employment opportunities and greater personal stakes in avoiding criminal charges.
France and Belgium: The author found insufficient recent causal evidence to assess the impact of immigration on crime in these countries.
General conclusion: Crime among immigrants is closely linked to economic opportunity; policies that provide legal status and integrate migrants into labor markets may effectively reduce criminal behavior.
Policy implication: Governments concerned about crime might achieve better outcomes by improving immigrants’ access to lawful employment rather than restricting migration per se.
This comment was auto-generated by the EA Forum Team. Feel free to point out issues with this summary by replying to the comment, and contact us if you have feedback.