Research project overview

Mapping the characteristics of the EU population in the UK
Understanding the characteristics of EU migrants living in the UK is critical. Should the country decide to leave the EU, the impact of social policies on the rights and responsibilities of non-UK European nationals living in the UK could be significant. Analysis of the 2011 Census highlights that compared to those born in the UK, EU-born migrants are more likely to be young, in employment, skilled with qualifications, living in privately rented accommodation and in good health. Many are also in partnerships with UK-born partners and a significant minority have children, so should the UK decide to leave the EU, this decision will affect the family lives of the migrants themselves and their wider family members.

Investigating migrants' attitudes to a changing EU
Will EU migrants in the UK choose to stay or go if the UK votes to leave the EU? Using data from a bespoke online survey, the researchers have examined what the three largest EU nationality groups (Portuguese, Polish and Romanian) in the UK have to say. These three groups represent three different EU enlargement waves, with Portugal having joined the European Union in 1986, Poland in 2004 and Romania in 2007.

Migrants' entitlements in the context of changing social policies
Welfare support for European Union migrants to the UK has often been presented as a "burden". However, evidence that migrants are strongly work-focussed suggests greater attention needs to be given to the welfare state's social investment role. How does the UK help EU migrants enhance their economic activity? How have policy changes since 2014 affected this situation and what happens if the UK votes to leave the EU? This study uses hypothetical evidence-based biographies to illustrate how restricting the benefits that EU migrants are entitled to has the potential to affect their productivity, and therefore economic benefits to the UK.

Posted 16/06/2016 14:57