International Labor Mobility and the Variety of Democratic Political Institutions. (20th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bearce, David H.; Hart, Andrew F.
• Is Part Of: International organization. Volume 71:Number 1(2017)
• Page Start: 65
• Page End: 95
• Publication Date: 2016-10-20
• Subjects: International organization -- Periodicals; Economic policy -- Periodicals; National security -- Periodicals; 341
• DOI: 10.1017/S0020818316000266
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-8183

Abstract

Abstract: Using a new measure of immigration policy and examining thirty-six advanced industrial countries between 1996 and 2012, we seek to explain systematically the variation in external labor openness among the more advanced democracies as primary destination countries, using a model where the government feels political pressure through both a voter/electoral channel and a special-interests channel. With voters primarily pressing for immigration restrictions and special interest pressure aimed at immigration openness, democratic political institutions—like a parliamentary system and proportional representation voting with greater district magnitude that make governments more responsive to voters and less responsive to special interests—should be associated with less change toward a more open official immigration policy. Our statistical evidence accords with this expectation.