Free movement of People and Cross-Border Welfare in the European Union: Dynamic Rules, Limited Outcomes

TY - JOUR

T1 - Free movement of People and Cross-Border Welfare in the European Union

T2 - Dynamic Rules, Limited Outcomes

AU - Martinsen, Dorte Sindbjerg

AU - Pons Rotger, Gabriel

AU - Thierry, Jessica Maria Sampson

PY - 2019/2/1

Y1 - 2019/2/1

N2 - For decades, the European legislators and the Court of Justice have extended the rights to free movement and cross-border welfare in the European Union (EU). Strong assumptions on the impact of these rules have been made. It has been held by some that they will lead to welfare migration and thus to be a fundamental challenge to the welfare state. However, studies of how these rules are implemented and what become the de facto outcomes hereof remain scarce. We address this research gap, by examining domestic responses to and outcomes of dynamic EU rules. We based our research on a unique set of administrative data for all EU citizens living in the universalist, tax-financed welfare state of Denmark between 2002 and 2013. We find that domestic responses have been restrictive and outcomes limited.

AB - For decades, the European legislators and the Court of Justice have extended the rights to free movement and cross-border welfare in the European Union (EU). Strong assumptions on the impact of these rules have been made. It has been held by some that they will lead to welfare migration and thus to be a fundamental challenge to the welfare state. However, studies of how these rules are implemented and what become the de facto outcomes hereof remain scarce. We address this research gap, by examining domestic responses to and outcomes of dynamic EU rules. We based our research on a unique set of administrative data for all EU citizens living in the universalist, tax-financed welfare state of Denmark between 2002 and 2013. We find that domestic responses have been restrictive and outcomes limited.

U2 - 10.1177/0958928718767300

DO - 10.1177/0958928718767300

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0958-9287

VL - 29

SP - 84

EP - 99

JO - Journal of European Social Policy

JF - Journal of European Social Policy

IS - 1

M1 - 7

ER -