Do higher educated migrants face less discrimination? Not necessarily, according to a new study — out now!

A new research study by MPG’s Head of Research, Giacomo Solano, Ben van Enk, and Özge Bilgili, explores the “discrimination paradox” across the European Union, which refers to the finding that higher-educated migrants perceive more discrimination compared to lower-educated migrants.  

Higher-educated ethnic minority members perceive more discrimination compared to the lower-educated in countries in which education pays off less, both in terms of the financial returns of education and with respect to the levels of perceived overqualification. 

The extent to which higher-educated ethnic minority members perceive more discrimination is not necessarily affected by anti-discrimination policies. 

However, the results from the study show that the “discrimination paradox” is not omnipresent in all EU countries. In fact, it is mostly a Western European and Scandinavian phenomenon. Evidence of its presence in Central, Eastern or Southern European countries remains scarce.  

For the full publication, click here.

About the Migration Policy Group (MPG)

MPG is an independent think-and-do-tank based in Brussels. MPG’s purpose is rooted in its ability to inspire networks to provide evidence-based projects, research and campaigns in the areas of integration, migration and anti-discrimination.