Working Papers: 

Tax incentives for migrants with mid-level earnings: evidence from the Netherlands

(joint with M. Giuliodori and P. Muller)
Status: Revise & Resubmit at AEJ: Applied. 


Abstract: 

This paper examines how income taxes affect international mobility and wages of migrants. We study a Dutch preferential tax scheme for migrants, which introduced an income threshold for eligibility in 2012. The threshold is low relative to similar schemes in other countries, thereby offering eligibility to migrants with mid-level earnings. Using administrative data, we find that migration in the income range closely above the threshold more than doubles, while there is little support for a decrease below the threshold. These effects appear to be driven mainly by additional migration, while wage bargaining responses are limited. We conclude that the reform of the tax scheme was very effective in attracting more migrants.

Keywords: international migration, income tax benefits, wage bargaining, bunching.


Full paper: Tinbergen Discussion Paper No. 22-068/V, IZA Working Paper No. 15582

News: Hervorming expatregeling heeft tot aanzienlijke toename migranten geleid (ESB, in Dutch)


Work in Progress: 

Data access funded by "A Sustainable Future" (ASF): Project description


Data access funded by "A Sustainable Future" (ASF): Project description