Contents
Higher social benefits for refugees lead to less crime. This is shown by a study that has not yet been published.
The discussion about the level of social benefits for refugees has flared up again since the start of the war in Ukraine. The different levels of support between cantons repeatedly cause criticism. Until now, it was not clear what consequences higher or lower social assistance would have for those affected. A comprehensive view was missing.
We see that increasing social assistance reduces crime in a canton.
Researchers are now presenting a study on the topic of social assistance for refugees. The team of experts examined, among other things, the effects of social assistance benefits on crime among refugees in Switzerland. The main finding: “We see that increasing social assistance reduces crime in a canton,” says Daniel Auer from the University of Turin.
No confirmation of previous theses
However, the study does not confirm the claim that refugees with less support would be more likely to look for a job. Nor does it mean that social assistance dampens the motivation to look for a job. There is no connection between the amount of social assistance and the intensity of the job search, says Auer. The incentive to work remains strong because a Swiss wage is much more attractive than a few hundred francs in social security.
The focus of the research was on those “provisionally admitted”. They are not entitled to asylum status, but still cannot be sent back to their homeland. The researchers were surprised by the fact that an increase or a reduction in social assistance immediately influences susceptibility to crime. Those affected responded even to small amounts. Changing the amount also changes the likelihood of a crime.
Legend:
Reading aid: The graphic shows that the probability of being accused of a crime decreases among refugees with temporary admission due to an increase in social assistance. This is primarily due to the decline in property crimes.
SRF
Based on the results, the research team proposes harmonization: an alignment of the different levels of social assistance for refugees in the cantons. The organization of social assistance is a matter for the cantons, but a federal law requires that people without asylum status receive less social assistance than local recipients and recognized refugees. That’s why alignment is not so easy, says Gaby Szöllösy, general secretary of the SODK, the cantonal conference of social directors.
She still finds the results of the study interesting. However, Szöllösy points out that the data comes from the years 2009 to 2016: “The data would have to be more current in order to gain very precise insights.” There have been some changes since 2016; refugees are now being given much more targeted support and support so that they can soon find work.
Also helpful with old data
The president would also have liked more recent figures from SKOS, the national specialist association for social assistance. But Christoph Eymann believes that this does not reduce the quality of the new study. “The thrust is correct,” he says, the study highlights an existing problem that SKOS also believes needs to be solved.
The findings of the study correspond to the experiences of SKOS, says the former Basel government councilor and national councilor: More support leads to fewer crimes, deeper approaches can lead to more crimes. For Eymann, these are good arguments to advocate for a Switzerland-wide harmonization of social assistance for refugees.