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We conduct independent research into significant challenges to the economy, society and the welfare state in a global world.

Call for Papers: RFBerlin Migration Forum 2027

CReAM@RFBerlin invites submissions for the third RFBerlin Migration Forum, on migration, integration, and economic competitiveness, with keynotes by Jens Hainmueller (Stanford) and Giovanni Peri (UC Davis).
Submission deadline: 8 November 2026.

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Research

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The ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin Institute for the Economy and the Future of Work (RFBerlin) engages in research designed to raise the standard of public debate and create the best possible basis for policy making.

Discussion papers

No. 272/26 - October 2026

Asymmetric Information in Wage Contracts: Experimental Evidence and Welfare Implications

Daniel Herbst

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No. 271/26 - October 2026

Firm Pay and Consumption Inequality

Sigurd Galaasen, Andreas Kostøl, Michael Simmons

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No. 270/26 - October 2026

Opportunity-sensitive social welfare

Tim Wienand, Brice Magdalou, Richard Nock, Paul Hufe

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No. 269/26 - October 2026

A double-differences approach to inference in regression discontinuity designs with a discrete running variable

Georg Graetz, Mattias Nordin

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Research Insights

Concise, research-based articles for scholars,
policymakers, and anyone curious about the world.

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No. 32/26 - August 2026

When Classmates Matter: How Competitive Peers Steer Students Toward Better-Paid Jobs

Most adolescents in Switzerland face one of the most consequential decisions of their educational pathway at the early age of 14: choosing an apprenticeship from around 200 options, from baker to information technologist. In our new study, we show that non-cognitive skills of their classmates play an important role in this choice.

Opportunity

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No. 31/26 - August 2026

Why Firms Hesitate to Hire Occupation Switchers

When workers change occupations, what makes firms willing to hire them? Most research on occupational mobility looks at it from the perspective of workers: who switches occupations and why. Less is known about how firms evaluate candidates from other occupations.

Opportunity

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No. 30/26 - August 2026

The Rules of the Game: How Wage Bargaining Rules Shape the Gender Pay Gap

The gender pay gap is often attributed to broad differences in education, experience, or career choices. However, even when men and women hold the same positions within the same firm, a pay gap often persists. Our recent study identifies a critical, yet often overlooked driver of this inequality: the specific rules governing wage bargaining.

Opportunity

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CReAM Reports

Data-driven reports on migration and related economic and social trends, highlighting the latest developments across Europe and beyond.

All CReAM Reports

No. 2/25 - April 2025

The Immigrant Population in the European Union

The EU’s foreign-born population reached over 63 million in 2024 (14.1%), driven by non-EU inflows and post-2022 surges. Germany remains the main destination, with most immigrants of working age and uneven distribution across countries.

Demography Migration

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No. 1/25 - January 2025

Attitudes towards migration in Europe, evidence from the European Social Survey

Attitudes towards immigration have evolved considerably across Europe over the past two decades, with important differences across countries and population groups. Views vary particularly by age and education, with younger and more highly educated Europeans generally expressing more positive attitudes towards immigration.

Attitudes

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News

RFBerlin research and researchers are regularly featured in the press.

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CReAM at RFBerlin Press release

24 Jul 2026

Immigrant Employment Rate in the EU at a Record High 

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CReAM at RFBerlin

23 Jul 2026

Employment of Immigrants in the European Union: Progress, Persistent Gaps, and Untapped Potential

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Press

21 Jul 2026

Research Insight on The Renegotiation Gap featured in Worldwide Media

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Press release

20 Jul 2026

Men Benefit More from Outside Job Opportunities Than Women

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Tweets by @RF_Berlin

ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin

Verified account @rf_berlin ·

23 Oct

RFBerlin Director Christian Dustmann presented "Understanding Immigration's Labor Market Effects" at the Immigration Policy Lab's Science of International Migration Seminar (SIMS) series! Watch his full talk here:

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ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin

Verified account @rf_berlin ·

23 Oct

⏳ Just a few weeks left to submit to the RFBerlin Migration Forum 2027.
We welcome research on migration, integration, economic competitiveness, and more.
📅 Submission deadline: 8 November
https://www.rfberlin.com/event/migrationforum27/

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ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin

Verified account @rf_berlin ·

22 Oct

Next week Tuesday 27 October, we welcome Michael Keane, Wm. Polk Carey Distinguished Professor at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School to Berlin for our Applied Economics Seminar Series!
📄 He will give a seminar on "Human Capital and Optimal Taxation", exploring how

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ROCKWOOL Foundation Berlin

Verified account @rf_berlin ·

21 Oct

With closing remarks by RFBerlin Director Christian Dustmann today's workshop comes to an end. Thank you to everyone involved, it was an inspiring day! 🎉

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Upcoming events

RFBerlin hosts a wide array of events aimed at fostering academic research and collaboration.

Masterclass

11 Mar – 12 Mar 2027

Consumption, Income, and Earnings Dynamics: the Distributional Dynamics of Inequality

Taught by Sir Richard Blundell

Conference

18 Mar – 19 Mar 2027

RFBerlin Migration Forum 2027

Migration, Integration, and Economic Competitiveness

Applied Economics Seminar

23 March 2027

Raffaele Saggio (Vancouver School of Economics)

View all events

Handbook of Labor Economics – Chapter Previews

In anticipation of the upcoming Handbook of Labor Economics, we offer early access to select chapters through our Discussion Papers series. Following our 2023 conference on this new edition, first chapters are now available for preview, featuring insights from leading research in economics and labor.

We conduct independent research into significant challenges to the economy, society and the welfare state in a global world.

Call for Papers: RFBerlin Migration Forum 2027

Become part of our research team

Research

Equity, Inclusion & Opportunity

Migration & Global Collaboration

Technology, Trade & Human Capital

Discussion papers

Research Insights

CReAM Reports

News

Immigrant Employment Rate in the EU at a Record High

Employment of Immigrants in the European Union: Progress, Persistent Gaps, and Untapped Potential

Research Insight on The Renegotiation Gap featured in Worldwide Media

Men Benefit More from Outside Job Opportunities Than Women

Upcoming events

Masterclass

Consumption, Income, and Earnings Dynamics: the Distributional Dynamics of Inequality

Conference

RFBerlin Migration Forum 2027

Applied Economics Seminar

Raffaele Saggio (Vancouver School of Economics)

Handbook of Labor Economics – Chapter Previews

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Immigrant Employment Rate in the EU at a Record High 