UNU-MERIT Working Papers Series
A historical perspective on immigration and social protection in the Netherlands
Melissa Siegel & Chris de Neubourg #2011-014Immigrant access to social protection in the Netherlands has changed
quite markedly over time. This paper discusses the changes from an
historical perspective and introduces a theoretical framework (the
Welfare Pentagon) explaining how immigrants cope with (economic)
hardship when they do not have access to formal social protection. The
relationship between migrants and social protection in the Netherlands
has been and still is marked by asymmetries in entitlements and
contributions (taxes). Shifting notions of fairness throughout time to
both documented and undocumented migrants are noticed and interpreted.
Key words: immigration, migration, social protection
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