Explaining Inequality in the Implementation of Asylum Law

Abstract Th e goal of this research was to identify factors that account for procedural and substantive inequality in implementing asylum law. Th e decisions of ninety-eight caseworkers of the Dutch Immigration and Naturalization Service on an asylum application were related to their answers on a questionnaire. Caseworkers diff er in the extent of available information on an asylum application they take for granted and in their fi nal decisions on it. Th ese diff erences result from work pressure, the caseworkers’ reputation, their role defi nition, political opinion, and professional background, and policy. Intensifying feedback and decreasing work pressure can achieve more consistent and careful decisions.