SOEP Research: Migration and Integration

Refugees are feeling increasingly unwelcome and becoming more concerned about xenophobia

Asylum Seekers and Host Country Mental Health: Evidence from Germany and Switzerland

Due to recent conflicts and humanitarian issues, millions of people have sought asylum in countries in Europe. The influx of asylum seekers has sparked debates about the impacts of such migratory flows on resident populations. We study how the recent migration of these forcibly displaced people into Europe affects the mental health of the receiving country residents in Switzerland and Germany. We exploit ...

Collecting Longitudinal Data among Newly Arriving Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Germany: Experiences from A Pilot Study at the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Impact of Private Hosting on the Integration of Ukrainian Refugees in Germany

Amid the Ukrainian displacement crisis, private hosting of refugees in Europe has surged, yet its impact on integration remains understudied. This research examines the short- to medium-term effects of private hosting on Ukrainian refugee integration in Germany. Using data from one of the largest non-profit platforms that matches private hosts with refugees, we compare the multidimensional integration ...

More refugees who came to Germany between 2013 and 2019 are naturalizing or applying to naturalize

Refugees Want to Stay in Germany Long Term and Become German Citizens

Becoming a German citizen marks a key step in the integration process of immigrants. An analysis of data from the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) shows that more and more refugees from six main countries who came to Germany between 2013 and 2019 were already naturalized or had applied to naturalize. The share of immigrants who had already naturalized increased from 2.1 percent in 2021 to 7.5 percent in ...

Occupational recognition of refugees: Effects on labor market outcomes, remittances, and life satisfaction (with Selina Gangl and Matthias Collischon)

Many high-income economies strive to integrate recently immigrated refugees and asylum-seekers into their labor markets. We contribute to the discussion of relevant policy tools and use rich survey data that are matched to precise administrative records on refugee immigrants to Germany. We study the impact of occupational recognition decisions on refugee outcomes. Applying a difference-in...

Mothers’ Living Conditions Shape Health and Early Development, While Refugee Experience Has Little Impact

Around 200,000 children were born to refugees in Germany between 2014 and 2022. This Weekly Report investigates how the health and development of children born in Germany to refugees are affected by their parent’s experience of being a refugee. An analysis using representative data from the Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) and data from the IAB-BAMFSOEP Survey of Refugees shows that there are no significant ...

Pre- and Post-Migration Determinants of Self-Rated Health Among Ukrainian Refugees In Germany: A Cross-Sectional Comparative Analysis with Recently Arrived Refugees from Other Countries of Origin

6.5 million Ukrainian refugees have been displaced globally since 2022, with one million who registered for temporary protection in Germany under the EU Tempo¬rary Protection Directive. Unlike other refugee groups, they were granted immediate access to social security and health care. However, little is known about the differences in health determinants for individuals arriving under the EU Temporary ...

Living Conditions and Participation of Ukrainian Refugees in Germany:: Findings from the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Survey of Refugees ; Research Report 51