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Health of Central and Eastern European migrants in Germany: healthy migrant effects and good health maintained?

Anikó Bíró (Department of Health Economics, Budapesti Corvinus Egyetem, Budapest, Hungary) (School of Economics, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK)

International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care

ISSN: 1747-9894

Article publication date: 10 January 2018

Issue publication date: 26 February 2018

1059

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the health level and health dynamics of migrants from Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), broadly defined, in Germany. Population health in CEE compares badly to Germany. Lifestyle changes and access to better health care in Germany can lead to health improvement of migrants.

Design/methodology/approach

Longitudinal data from the German Socio-Economic Panel are used. First, the time trends of immigrant and native health are analysed graphically. Second, regression analysis is conducted, controlling for demographic and socio-economic factors when estimating the country of origin effects on health. Finally, regression models are estimated to investigate if social and economic integration significantly improves the subjective well-being of the immigrant groups.

Findings

Evidence is found for significantly better subjective health of migrants compared to the natives, even if demographic and socio-economic factors are controlled for. Only part of the health advantage is explained by selective migration. The health of the more advantaged migrants tend to decline slower than of the natives.

Social implications

If migrants are economically and socially integrated in the host country then their presence is unlikely to increase the health burdens of the host country.

Originality/value

The existing knowledge on the health developments of migrants from CEE in other European countries is limited. Based on richer statistical information, the results of this paper partly contradict earlier findings in the literature, in particular no evidence is seen for worse or quickly declining health of immigrants.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The author declares that the author has no competing interests.

Citation

Bíró, A. (2018), "Health of Central and Eastern European migrants in Germany: healthy migrant effects and good health maintained?", International Journal of Migration, Health and Social Care, Vol. 14 No. 1, pp. 68-81. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMHSC-03-2017-0008

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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