Another battle of the have-nots? the impact of immigration on the poverty risk of Western European natives

This paper explores the influence of immigration on the risk of poverty among native populations in Western European countries. Given that the risk of poverty can vary across nations due to factors such as labour market engagement and access to public programmes, it is hypothesised that immigration's impact operates through both the labour market and public finance channels. Using an aggregate panel dataset covering 16 Western European countries observed annually from 2005 to 2018, the study examines the risk of poverty among all European natives as well as specifically among low-skilled natives. The findings suggest that higher levels of immigration do not exacerbate the risk of income poverty or material deprivation among native populations in Western Europe.