August 2014

IZA DP No. 8410: Migration, Economic Crisis and Adjustment in the UK

revised version published in: M. Kahanec and K.F. Zimmermann (eds), Labor Migration, EU Enlargement and the Great Recession, Berlin: Springer, 2016

We examine changes in migration to the UK in the period leading up to the Great Recession and in its immediate aftermath. In so doing, we pay particular attention to the changing countries of origin of recent migration flows to the UK, especially in relation to migration from other parts of the EU. The evolving patterns of migrants' socio-economic characteristics and labour market outcomes are also analysed, including how these relate to changes in the economy and migration policy. Finally, we review evidence on the impact of migration on the UK labour market and government finances.