Migration and Integration Policy:
Policy Failure: the Economics of Migration and Integration
Emily Johnson
Abstract
Dutch immigration policy is primarily considered to be an unsuccessful response to the past century’s immigration, the origins of which are largely Moroccan. Immigration to the Netherlands was largely unregulated in the first half of the century, with the government even promoting isolated years of recruitment of Moroccan workers. Conversely, the past three decades have been characterized by a protectionist policy; with assistance from the Moroccan government, strict regulation has closed the borders to immigration and newer programs offer financial assistance for return migration. Despite the government’s efforts, illegal immigration proliferates. With new policy initiatives, could both countries potentially benefit economically from the opening of Dutch borders to legal immigration?
