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...

Drivers and Dynamics of High-Skilled Migration (2012-2014)

This project aims to improve understanding of the drivers and dynamics of high‐skilled migration, and in particular the role of policy in this type of migration. A key focus is on the mobility of students and academics within the global South and North, including increasing migration to developing countries. Read more...

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...

Global Migration Futures (2009–2013)