| Title: |
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The value of diplomacy: Bilateral relations and immigrant well-being |
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| Author(s): |
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Leonardo Becchetti 1, Andrew E. Clark 2, 3, 4, Elena Giachin Ricco 5 |
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| Laboratory: |
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| Fulltext language: |
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English |
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| Production date: |
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2011-03 |
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| Abstract: |
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This paper attempts to establish the value of good relationships between countries by considering their effect on a group of individuals who are arguably intimately affected by them: immigrants. We appeal to an index of conflict/cooperation which is calculated as an annual weighted sum of news items between two countries. This index is matched to a sample of immigrants to Germany in the SOEP data. The index of bilateral relations thus exhibits both time-series and cross-section variation. Good relations are positively and significantly correlated with immigrant life satisfaction, especially when we downplay low-value news events. This significant effect is much stronger for immigrants who have been in Germany longer, and who expect to stay there forever. This is consistent with good relations directly affecting the quality of immigrants' lives in the host country, but is not consistent with assimilation. There is thus a significant value to diplomacy: good relationships between home and host countries generate significant well-being externalities for those who live abroad. |
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Abstract
(other language): |
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Ce papier traite de la question de la valeur, en termes de bien-être, des bonnes relations entre pays, par le biais de l'analyse d'un groupe d'individus liés aux deux pays : les immigrés. Nous faisons appel à un indice de conflit et coopération calculé comme une somme pondérée du nombre de communiqués de presse entre deux pays. Cet indice est ensuite apparié à un échantillon d'immigrés en Allemagne dans les données du SOEP. Notre mesure des relations bilatérales varie donc non seulement dans le temps mais aussi entre immigrés venant de pays différents. Nous observons une relation positive et significative entre la satisfaction dans la vie des immigrés et la qualité des relations bilatérales entre le pays d'accueil et le pays d'origine. Cet effet est plus marqué pour les immigrés présents en Allemagne depuis plus longtemps et qui veulent y rester. Ce résultat témoigne de l'effet direct des relations internationales sur la qualité de la vie quotidienne des immigrés dans le pays d'accueil, un effet qui semble contradictoire avec l'hypothèse assimilation. L'effet de la diplomatie sur le bien-être est donc positive. |
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| Publication type: |
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Preprint, Working Paper, ... |
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| Subject: |
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Humanities and Social Sciences/Economy and finances
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| Keyword(s): |
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migration – bilateral relations – life satisfaction – assimilation – diplomacy |
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| JEL Classification: |
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| F - International Economics/F5 - International Relations and International Political Economy |
| F - International Economics/F2 - International Factor Movements and International Business/F22 - International Migration |
| I - Health – Education – and Welfare/I3 - Welfare and Poverty/I31 - General Welfare |
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| Internal note: |
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PSE Working Papers n°2011-11 |
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