Introduction to Economic / Second Citizenships

• Author: Marshall Langer
• Pages: 37-40

37

Introduction to Economic Citizenship/Second Citizenship

5

Introduction to Economic

Citizenship/Second Citizenship

Marshall Langer

Editor’s note:

The following is a two part presentation on Economic Citizenship. The first paper

looks at some basic rationales for economic citizenship and sets the framework for

the second, more detailed, country specific examination of second citizenship.

The Elements of Citizenship

EVERY COUNTRY DETERMINES who are its citizens.

While some people acquire citizenship automatically at birth, others

become eligible to apply for it and are naturalised. You may become eligible

to apply for citizenship due to:

a. your ancestry;

b. your marriage;

c. your ethnic background or religion and legal residence for a period

of years.

Citizenship typically gives you rights such as:

a. the right to be a resident;

b. the right to work the right to own land; and

c. the right to vote and the right to hold public office;

It may also require duties even if you are not resident. These include:

a. the duty to perform military service;

b. the duty to pay taxes on your worldwide income and gains;

c. the duty to pay high death taxes on your worldwide assets;

d. the duty to obey extraterritorial laws;