Work in progress:
Cultural distance and commuting flows across national borders, with Frank Cörvers and Hans Schmeets (R&R Journal of Economic Geography)
Abstract: Using unique administrative data on historical dialects for the Netherlands and the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium, we estimate the effect of cultural dissimilarity on cross-border commuting flows from Belgium to the Netherlands. The results show that economic drivers, specifically the cost of commuting measured by the geographical distance, remains the most important factor defining the distribution of workers across the national borders of Belgium and the Netherlands. Furthermore, in our baseline regression, an increase of one standard deviation of cultural dissimilarity between regions leads to a robust decrease in cross-border commuting flows of 7.7%.
Tax-Induced Emigration: Who Flees High Taxes? Evidence from the Netherlands, with Olivier Marie, Frank Cörvers and Hans Schmeets
Abstract: We study the impact of a policy change in the Netherlands that reduced preferential tax treatment duration for high-skilled migrants arriving from specific countries in certain years. Utilizing comprehensive tax and population data, we document substantial tax-induced emigration responses, primarily driven by the top 1% of earners. Highly mobile individuals within the top 5% also emigrate sooner, particularly to competing countries offering tax-breaks to attract skilled workers. Crucially, we uncover no change in mobility behavior among lower-earning workers. The increased tax receipts from lower-income individuals who remain offset the loss from fleeing high earners, making the policy fiscally cost-neutral.
The Effect of an Unexpected Wave of Immigration on Local Labor Markets: The Surinamese Case in the Netherlands
Abstract: We study the labor market effects of a large and unexpected migration wave: the Surinamese migration to the Netherlands following Suriname’s independence in 1975. The migration wave constituted a sudden and exogenous labor supply shock, as migrants arrived en masse with full labor market rights. Leveraging variation in local exposure to Surinamese migrants, we employ a difference-in-differences strategy to estimate the impact on native employment and occupational outcomes. We find that the migration shock led to a decline in employment among low-skilled natives, while high-skilled natives experienced no adverse effects. Importantly, we exploit heterogeneity in Dutch language proficiency among Surinamese migrants—resulting from colonial education policies—to assess the role of language knowledge in labor market adjustments.
Non-Reviewed Publications / Policy Reports
European Commission (2023), Employment and Social Developments in Europe Annual Review 2023, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg