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Access to Language Training and Local Integration of Refugees

Author

Listed:
  • Mette Foged

    (Mette Foged)

  • Cynthia van der Werf

    (Cynthia van der Werf)

Abstract
This paper examines whether proximity to language classes raises refugees’ language proficiency and improves their social and economic integration. Our identification strategy leverages the opening, closing and gradual expansion of local language training centers in Denmark, as well as the quasi-random assignment of the refugees to locations with varying proximity to a language training center. First, we show that refugees’ distance from the assigned language training center is as good as random. Second, we show that language skills decrease monotonically with commuting time such that a one-hour decrease in commuting time increases fluency in the Danish language by 4 to 6 percent relative to the sample mean. The exogenous variation in language proficiency generates substantial positive effects on post language training human capital acquisition and on the integration of the refugees in the local communities where they were initially placed, as measured by the lower exit rates from those same communities and lower mobility to the largest, most immigrant-dense, cities in Denmark.

Suggested Citation

  • Mette Foged & Cynthia van der Werf, 2022. "Access to Language Training and Local Integration of Refugees," RF Berlin - CReAM Discussion Paper Series 2210, Rockwool Foundation Berlin (RF Berlin) - Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM).
    • Handle: RePEc:crm:wpaper:2210
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Aksoy, Cevat Giray & Poutvaara, Panu & Schikora, Felicitas, 2023. "First time around: Local conditions and multi-dimensional integration of refugees," Journal of Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    2. Pont-Grau, Alex & Lei, Yu-Hsiang & Lim, Joel Z.E. & Xia, Xing, 2023. "The effect of language training on immigrants’ integration: Does the duration of training matter?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 160-198.
    3. Foged, Mette & van der Werf, Cynthia, 2023. "Access to language training and the local integration of refugees," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    4. Dahlberg, Matz & Egebark, Johan & Vikman, Ulrika & Özcan, Gülay, 2024. "Labor market integration of refugees: RCT evidence from an early intervention program in Sweden," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 217(C), pages 614-630.
    5. Lisa Sofie Höckel, 2024. "Language lesson learned—foreign-origin teachers and their effect on students’ language skills," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 37(2), pages 1-32, June.
    6. Honorati,Maddalena & Testaverde,Mauro & Totino,Elisa, 2024. "Labor Market Integration of Refugees in Germany : New Lessons After the Ukrainian Crisis," Social Protection Discussion Papers and Notes 189759, The World Bank.
    7. Ahrens, Achim & Beerli, Andreas & Hangartner, Dominik & Kurer, Selina & Siegenthaler, Michael, 2023. "The Labor Market Effects of Restricting Refugees' Employment Opportunities," IZA Discussion Papers 15901, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    8. Foged, Mette & Hasager, Linea & Peri, Giovanni & Arendt, Jacob Nielsen & Bolvig, Iben, 2023. "Intergenerational spillover effects of language training for refugees," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    9. Åslund, Olof & Engdahl, Mattias & Rosenqvist, Olof, 2024. "Limbo or leverage? Asylum waiting and refugee integration," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    10. Furtado, Delia & Kong, Haiyang, 2024. "How do low-education immigrants adjust to Chinese import shocks? Evidence using English language proficiency," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    11. Arendt, Jacob Nielsen & Bolvig, Iben, 2023. "Trade-offs between work-first and language-first strategies for refugees," Economics of Education Review, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    12. Matti Sarvimäki & Hanna Pesola, 2022. "Intergenerational Spillovers of Integration Policies: Evidence from Finland’s Integration Plans," RF Berlin - CReAM Discussion Paper Series 2212, Rockwool Foundation Berlin (RF Berlin) - Centre for Research and Analysis of Migration (CReAM).
    13. Dahlberg, Matz & Egebark, Johan & Vikman, Ulrika, 2023. "Long-run integration of refugees: RCT evidence from a Swedish early intervention program," Working Paper Series 2023:23, IFAU - Institute for Evaluation of Labour Market and Education Policy.
    14. Adema, Joop & Aksoy, Cevat Giray & Giesing, Yvonne & Poutvaara, Panu, 2024. "The Effect of Conflict on Refugees' Return and Integration: Evidence from Ukraine," IZA Discussion Papers 16962, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    15. Demirci, Murat & Kırdar, Murat Güray, 2023. "The labor market integration of Syrian refugees in Turkey," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    16. Chiara Maria Zisler & Eric Bettinger & Uschi Backes-Gellner, 2024. "Empowering refugees: The role of comprehensive training programs in labor market integration," Economics of Education Working Paper Series 0218, University of Zurich, Department of Business Administration (IBW).
    17. Pesola, Hanna Onerva & Sarvimäki, Matti, 2022. "Intergenerational Spillovers of Integration Policies: Evidence from Finland's Integration Plans," IZA Discussion Papers 15310, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    18. Itoh, Ryo & Sato, Yasuhiro & Zenou, Yves, 2024. "Intergenerational assimilation of minorities: The role of the majority group," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    19. Olcina, Gonzalo & Panebianco, Fabrizio & Zenou, Yves, 2024. "Conformism, social pressure, and the dynamics of integration," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 279-304.
    20. Glitz, Albrecht & Rapoport, Hillel, 2024. "Introduction to the Labour Economics special issue on immigration economics," Labour Economics, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    21. Di Paolo, Antonio & Mallén, Bernat, 2023. "Does geographical exposure to language learning centres affect language skills and labour market outcomes in a bilingual city?," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 429-449.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    refugee integration; language skills;

    JEL classification:

    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity
    • J60 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - General

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