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European Asylum Policy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 March 2020

Timothy J. Hatton*
Affiliation:
Australian National University and University of Essex

Abstract

Policy towards asylum seekers has been a controversial topic for more than a decade. Rising numbers of asylum applications have been met with ever-tougher policies to deter them. Following a period of policy harmonisation, the EU has reached a crucial stage in the development of a new Common European Asylum System. This paper seeks to shed light on what form this should take. It summarises the development of policy to date and it argues that these policies have been too tough, even from the point of view of EU citizens. Using an economic framework, it examines scenarios with different degrees of policy harmonisation and integration among EU countries. Finally, it argues that there is an important role for enhanced burden-sharing arrangements.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © 2005 National Institute of Economic and Social Research

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Footnotes

This paper builds on previous research in Hatton (2004) and Hatton and Williamson (2004). I am grateful for useful comments from Alison Booth, William Coleman, Steve Dowrick, and Ben Smith, and from participants at the ANU School of Economics Workshop. Special thanks are due to John Ermisch for detailed advice on the theoretical framework.

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