Does ad hoc language training improve the economic integration of refugees? Evidence from Germany's response to the Syrian refugee crisis

Marbach, Moritz, Vallizadeh, Ehsan, Harder, Niklas, Hangartner, Dominik and Hainmueller, Jens (2025) Does ad hoc language training improve the economic integration of refugees? Evidence from Germany's response to the Syrian refugee crisis. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society. Series A: Statistics in Society. ISSN 0964-1998

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Abstract

Given the global displacement crisis, the integration of refugees has emerged as a critical policy issue for many host countries. A key challenge involves supporting refugees in learning the language of their host country. While several European nations have instituted publicly funded language training for asylum seekers and refugees soon after their arrival, evidence on the efficacy of these early language programmes in promoting economic integration remains limited. This study examines the impact of a pioneering, large-scale ad hoc programme introduced by German policymakers, which provided basic language training to over 230,000 refugees arriving in 2015–2016. Utilizing register data on the population of asylum seekers and exploiting a cut-off date in programme eligibility, we assess the programme’s effectiveness using a regression discontinuity design. Our findings reveal no discernible effect on refugee employment over the subsequent 2 years. To explore whether language programmes are generally ineffective during refugee crises, we contrast these results with the impacts of a more comprehensive, preexisting, yet smaller-scale programme. Using a variety of difference-in-differences estimators, we find that this programme considerably increased refugee employment. These contrasting findings offer important insights for policymakers on designing effective language training programmes for refugees.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© 2025 The Royal Statistical Society
Divisions:	Government
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology J Political Science > JV Colonies and colonization. Emigration and immigration. International migration H Social Sciences > HA Statistics
Date Deposited:	14 Jan 2025 16:21
Last Modified:	14 Jan 2025 16:21
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/126883

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