The ifo Center of Excellence for Migration and Integration Research (CEMIR) combines expertise from different research institutions and countries, and hitherto often separated fields in economics. Through this, it contributes towards answering the questions concerning optimal immigration policies.

Diverging demographic developments in Europe and in developing countries create a potential for huge mutual gains from migration. At the same time, the immigration of low-skilled workers and emigration of high-skilled workers pose a challenge to the European social model. How can receiving countries ensure that immigrants are net contributors to public finances? How can receiving countries’ welfare state and labour market institutions and immigration policies be designed so that both receiving countries and immigrants will gain?

To answer these questions, the ifo Institute has established the ifo Center of Excellence for Migration and Integration Research (CEMIR). It provides an integrated approach, bringing together labour economics, public economics, political economics, education economics and globalization research. It provides public goods to the research and policy communities in the form of analysis, policy briefs, workshops, conferences, and educating doctoral students. At a later stage, it will also provide an integrated model to assess the effects of immigration policies. CEMIR aims at achieving a lasting impact on the German and European policy debates on migration.

From 2012 to 2015, it is financed by a grant from the Leibniz Association.