Exploring Dimensions of Migrant Integration in Germany: A Dynamic and Regional Perspective

Integration, as defined in this dissertation, is understood as a relational, multidimensional, and context-dependent process through which individuals gain access to, participate in, and are recognized within the core institutions and social structures of the receiving society (Esser, 2001; Penninx and Garcés-Mascareñas, 2016). This thesis seeks to move the status quo perspective in analyzing integration outcomes toward a “what-if” perspective, exploring where integration outcomes might develop under different conditions. Furthermore, it aims to examine how Germany’s regions differ in the conditions they create for integration and what insights can be gained by framing integration not merely as a question of individual social integration but as a regional and structural one. Building on this conceptual perspective, the thesis applies microsimulation and regional analytical approaches to investigate how integration processes unfold over time and across space through four research articles. The first article on interethnic relationships demonstrates that regional structural opportunities condition migrant partnership patterns beyond individual preferences. The second article on labor market outcomes identifies the regional contexts that drive spatial disparities and ultimately create unequal opportunities in immigrant labor market integration in Germany. The third article on elderly care shows how migration and integration dimensions can be incorporated as stratifying attributes in dynamic microsimulations, allowing for theory-driven projections of long-term societal outcomes. The fourth article on income disparities reveals the analytical strength of combining dynamic microsimulation with regional analysis to evaluate the long-term magnitude of effects given regional heterogeneity. Together, these studies underscore the importance of incorporating contextual perspectives into the analysis of integration dimensions in Germany and demonstrate how social science simulations can advance integration research. The societal contribution of this thesis is to foster a less polarized understanding of integration by grounding debates in empirical evidence. In doing so, the framework of this thesis offers a transferable approach for international and comparative research beyond the German context and beyond the field of integration research.