Immigration and the Welfare State

The podcast episode explores the consequences of immigration for the public finances of the Netherlands. The lead author of the report 'Borderless Welfare State', Jan van der Beek, discusses the findings and methodology of the report. The main focus of the report is on the net fiscal effects of immigration, with a particular emphasis on the role of education and cultural background. The report finds that immigrants with lower levels of education tend to have net costs, while well-educated immigrants often make positive net contributions over their lifetime. Additionally, the cultural background, particularly from regions such as Africa and the Islamic world, has a significant impact on the net fiscal effects. The report also highlights the role of the welfare state in attracting and retaining certain groups of immigrants, and the potential implications for population growth and integration. Overall, the report provides insights into the complex relationship between immigration and the welfare state, shedding light on the economic and social dynamics at play.