Meta-Analysis: The Impact of Immigration on the Economic Performance of the Host Country

Alexandre Luz, Pedro Cunha Neves (), Oscar Afonso and Elena Sochirca
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Alexandre Luz: School of Economics and Management, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-464 Porto, Portugal
Pedro Cunha Neves: CEF.UP, School of Economics and Management, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-464 Porto, Portugal
Oscar Afonso: CEF.UP, School of Economics and Management, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-464 Porto, Portugal
Elena Sochirca: CEF.UP, School of Economics and Management, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-464 Porto, Portugal

Economies, 2025, vol. 13, issue 8, 1-21

Abstract: Growing global migration flows highlight the importance of understanding their economic impact. While many studies have explored how immigration affects host countries’ macroeconomic indicators, the results are mixed. In this work, we develop a meta-analysis to investigate the effect of immigration on the economic performance of the host country, focusing on key indicators such as economic growth, productivity, unemployment, and innovation. The results indicate that, on average, immigration has a positive and statistically significant impact on economic performance. The effect varies based on immigrant and host country characteristics, including qualifications, age, and economic development level. Additionally, differences in methodological approaches across studies contribute to the observed heterogeneity in findings. These findings underscore the importance of further research on the economic effects of immigration and offer implications for both policy and future research.

Keywords: immigration; economic performance; meta-analysis; host country (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: E F I J O Q (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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