Knowledge Centre

Assessing the Fiscal Costs and Benefits of A8 Migration to the UK

by Caroline Halls; Christian Dustmann; Tommaso Frattini

Jul 1, 2009
A8 immigrants who are eligible to receive state benefits are 60% less likely to claim for them than the native population -- and are 13% less likely to do so adjusting for demographics. Since 2004, A8 migrants have made net contributions to public finances. Immigrants also tend to be more highly educated, more likely to participate in the job market, and have much higher employment rates.