TY  - RPRT
        AU  - Andres, Leander
AU  - Bauernschuster, Stefan
AU  - Dahl, Gordon B.
AU  - Rainer, Helmut
AU  - Schüller, Simone
        TI  - Birthright Citizenship and Crime
        PY  - 2026/Feb/
        PB  - Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        CY  - Bonn
        T2  - IZA Discussion Paper
        IS  - 18374
        UR  - https://www.iza.org/publications/dp18374
        AB  - This paper studies the impact of birthright citizenship on youth crime. We leverage a reform which automatically granted birthright citizenship to eligible immigrant children born in Germany after January 1, 2000 and administrative crime data from three federal states. Immigrant youth who acquired citizenship at birth are substantially less likely to engage in criminal activity, with estimates indicating a 70% reduction. These results are particularly relevant in light of ongoing debates in the U.S. about abolishing birthright citizenship. Our findings suggest that inclusive citizenship policies can reduce crime and its associated costs, which in turn could strengthen social cohesion.
        KW  - birthright citizenship
KW  - crime
KW  - immigration
KW  - integration
        ER  -