Where do Immigrants from Germany's Neighbouring Countries Live? An Analysis on a District Level

Demographic change in Germany is leading to a reduction in the size of the working population in Germany and thus to a shortage of skilled staff. One way of counteracting this shortage is to attract suitable staff from abroad. Economic theory describes the positive influence of geographical proximity on the decision to immigrate, meaning that a disproportionate number of immigrants are likely to settle in geographical proximity to their home country. An investigation by the Dresden branch of the Ifo Institute confirms this assumption for the majority of Germany's neighbouring countries. Only immigrants from Poland do not conform with this pattern.