Immigration and Integration in the West

Immigration is one of the most contested issues in US and European politics, and economists have developed a large empirical literature that often reaches conflicting conclusions. This course examines the economic, social, and political integration of immigrants in the United States and Europe, combining a conceptual and historical overview with a focus on core empirical debates. Topics include labor market and fiscal effects, discrimination, political participation, social cohesion, and immigration backlash, including its relationship to right-wing voting. Students engage with foundational work (e.g., the Mariel boatlift debate) and recent research, learning to evaluate causal claims using natural experiments, difference-in-differences, audit studies, and historical designs. The course also examines the role of citizenship policies and diaspora ties in shaping integration outcomes, equipping students to critically assess empirical findings and their relevance for policy debates.