Long-term integration of 2015-16 refugees in Germany outside cities: key studies

[Brian_G]

I'm a graduate student focusing on migration policy, and I'm analyzing the long-term integration outcomes for refugees who arrived in Germany during the 2015-2016 peak of the European refugee crisis. While there's ample data on initial reception, I'm seeking more nuanced studies on their economic and social integration seven years on, particularly outside major urban centers. For researchers or practitioners in this field, what recent longitudinal studies or local government reports have you found most insightful regarding employment trajectories, language acquisition success, and the impact of dispersal policies on community cohesion?

[SofiaJ]

Key resource to start with is the IAB-BAMF-SOEP Refugee Sample. It’s a longitudinal data set that tracks refugees in Germany and includes employment, language learning, education, housing, and welfare outcomes. Look for published papers using that data, especially on rural vs urban integration and how dispersal policies correlated with economic and social outcomes.