The 2025 edition of our Summer School on the Political Economy of Immigration concludes successfully

The 2025 edition of our Summer School on the Political Economy of Immigration concludes successfully

The UB School of Economics proudly announces the successful completion of the 2025 Summer School on “The Political Economy of Immigration – Economics, Attitudes, and Votes: Unpacking Immigration Dynamics.” Held from June 30 to July 4, this intensive course brought together a diverse group of participants to examine one of the most politically salient issues of our time: international migration.

Amid ongoing global debates on immigration, identity, and populism, the programme offered a timely and rigorous exploration of the economic and political dimensions of migration.

This year’s edition welcomed a highly international and academically accomplished group of participants from 11 countries—including Italy, Spain, Poland, France, Georgia, India, China, Russia, and Switzerland—who are currently pursuing or have completed studies and research experiences at institutions such as Bocconi University, the University of Zurich, the Paris School of Economics, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, CY Cergy Paris University, the University of Melbourne, and the Barcelona School of Economics.

Lectures addressed a broad spectrum of topics, including the socioeconomic integration of migrants, labor market outcomes, electoral consequences, and the geopolitics of migration. A strong emphasis was placed on empirical methods—particularly causal inference techniques—to assess the impact of immigration on political behaviour and policy development.

The 2025 edition of the Summer School was coordinated by Matteo Gamalerio, researcher at the University of Barcelona and the Institut d’Economia de Barcelona (IEB). Lecturers included:

– Andreas Steinmayr, Professor of Empirical Economic Research at the University of Innsbruck
– Tanya Surovtseva, Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Barcelona and affiliated researcher at the Institut d’Economia de Barcelona (IEB)

The course combined traditional lectures with dynamic, structured debates. Each day included four hours of lectures followed by one hour of guided discussion, with students assigned specific roles and readings in advance. This interactive component encouraged critical thinking and fostered active exchange among participants.

The final day featured student presentations in a mini-workshop format, where participants shared their ongoing research, presented posters, and discussed key policy papers.

As the Summer School draws to a close, participants leave with new tools, perspectives, and connections to tackle the complex interplay between immigration and politics in their academic and professional paths.

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