Migration and migrants are regulated by many different organisations at the local, national and international levels. These levels of regulation interact, and are organised, in complex and often contradictory ways – with important outcomes not only for migrants but also for non-migrants, communities in origin and destination areas, firms, and governments.

IMI collaborates with academics, governments, civil society, and international organisations to address research questions such as: What drives migration policy agendas at different levels? How do migration policies interact with migration flows, and with national policies and international relations in other areas such as trade, aid, taxation, security and welfare? Why do policy outcomes often fail to match stated policy objectives? How can we measure the effectiveness of different migration policy instruments? And what might migration policy and governance look like in the future?

Ongoing activities

The Determinants of International Migration (DEMIG) (2010–2014)

This project addresses the question: how do the migration policies of receiving and sending countries affect the size, direction and nature of international migration when controlling for the effects of other migration determinants in receiving and sending countries? Read more about the DEMIG project...

Emigration States in the Global Governance of Migration (2010-2011)

Migration policy is often mistakenly equated with immigration policies of migrant-receiving countries – so this project focuses on the relatively overlooked emigration policies of migrant-sending countries. It asks how states relate to ‘their’ diasporas? Why do they do so in particular ways? And how should they do so better? Read more about the Emigration States project...

Global Migration Futures (2009–)

This project aims to assess future global migration trends and their effects on European receiving countries and sending countries mainly located in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. This is done through elaborating scenarios, as an innovative research methodology, taking account of likely future social, economic, political, demographic and environmental change in various world regions. Read more about the Global Migration Futures project...

Theorizing the Evolution of European Migration Systems (THEMIS) (2010–2013)

This project looks at the way in which patterns of migration develop. It  focuses on the conditions and processes that encourage initial moves to become established migration systems and lead to their breakdown. THEMIS theoretical contribution is to bridge the theories on initiation and continuation of migration, and  to integrate the concept of `agency’ in the systems theory approach to migration. Read more about the THEMIS project...

Transatlantic Dialogues on Migration and Development Issues (2008–2010)

This project facilitates an exchange between policy makers and scholars looking at the Mexico-US and Morocco-EU experiennces. It combines discussion and direct field observation of the differential impacts of migration. Read more about the Transatlantic Dialogues project...