2016_Werner_DW_PhD.pdf (2.13 MB)
Migration Statistics Harmonisation in the European Union: Comparing the Cases of the United Kingdom and the Netherlands
thesis
posted on 2016-03-18, 15:18 authored by Deborah WernerThis study addresses how European Union (EU) level and domestic level actors strive to
harmonise migration statistics. Comparable migration statistics are essential for EU
policy-makers and academics for informed policy formulation and policy evaluation.
Yet the components of these statistics vary between the EU member states and hamper
their comparison. While the statistical possibilities to enhance the comparability of
migration statistics are well-covered in the literature, few studies look into the statistics
producers themselves, or ask which factors further the harmonisation of migration
statistics. With migration policy rising on the EU’s agenda, also related statistics gain in
importance. Statistics producers inform governments as well as supranational
institutions, and are therefore essential for democratic and transparent policy-making. It
is vital, therefore, to analyse those who collect the data, how they produce statistics, and
how they harmonise them across countries.
This study employs a most different case research design and focuses on two
distinct national statistical systems in their cooperation with EU stakeholders in the case
of migration statistics harmonisation. Comparing the United Kingdom with the
Netherlands, this thesis finds that there was most domestic adaptation and policy
convergence in view of migration statistics definitions, and less adaptation regarding the
policy instruments as well as policy goals. This thesis argues that in addition to
supranational explanatory factors such as a high obligatory potential, high domestic
administrative capacity as well as national non-opposition to and knowledge of rules
drive migration statistics harmonisation.
History
Supervisor(s)
Brace, Laura; Guerra, SimonaDate of award
2016-03-03Author affiliation
Department of Politics and International RelationsAwarding institution
University of LeicesterQualification level
- Doctoral
Qualification name
- PhD