Asserting Welfare Migration

Abstract This chapter turns to the politically charged idea of “welfare magnet” effects—the claim that generous welfare systems attract migrants—which, despite its contested empirical validity, has profoundly influenced policymaking. Through historical and contemporary case studies from Germany and the United States, the analysis demonstrates how this narrative has often served ideological or strategic purposes. The comparison demonstrates how politically powerful and sticky the idea of welfare magnetism is, and that the demands for evidence in asserting it appear very low: political actors frequently invoked the idea of welfare magnetism with little supporting evidence, using speculative or anticipatory arguments to advocate for restrictive measures. The chapter underscores the enduring influence of political framing and institutional context in shaping welfare policies and determining the boundaries of social citizenship.