The labour market impact of immigration : theory and evidence

Abstract

In this survey, we compare the history and status of immigration of a traditional immigration county (the US) with the experiences of a new immigration country (Germany). This reveals differences in the immigration policy as in the immigration population in the respective countries. We resume the theoretical model implications which the existing immigration should have had on the labour market outcome of natives. This takes into account the differing labour market institutions in both countries. We conclude then with a summary on the controversial debate of the empirical studies if immigration is harmful to natives or not.