(18 May 2016) – A new international study released today finds significant economic benefits for wealthy EU countries that accept refugees. But one of the weaknesses of the report appears to be that it does not analyse the case in poorer EU countries in Central and Eastern Europe.
Refugees have a lot to contribute as workers, entrepreneurs, innovators, taxpayers, consumers and investors, the report by the Tent Foundation and Open Political Economy Network (OPEN) finds.
According to the report’s author, Philippe Legrain, this is the first comprehensive, international study of how refugees can contribute to advanced economies – calculated from International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates of the economic impact of asylum seekers and refugees on the European Union.
According to the report, “Investing one euro in welcoming refugees can yield nearly two euros in economic benefits within five years.” (EurActiv)