Managing migration? Eu enlargement, local government capacity and performance in England

Abstract

This study explores how English local governments managed high levels of worker migration from Eastern Europe in the wake of the enlargement of the European Union in 2004. Theories of local government capacity suggest that strong central administration and vibrant community organizational life can increase the likelihood that public service performance will be maintained despite sudden shifts in the external environment. We explore the interactive effects of immigration and administrative and community capacity on English local government performance, using multivariate statistical techniques. The results suggest that local government capacity moderated the negative impact on performance of migration from Eastern Europe. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.