Central and East European Migrants' Contributions to Social Protection

Prior to the first EU 'eastward enlargement' in 2004, many economists warned of the impact of East-West migration on the sustainability of social protection schemes in Western Europe. Very critical voices came from Germany, which restricted access to its labour market for as long as possible under EU legislation. Other countries such as Ireland opened their borders to Central and Eastern European migrants from day one of accession. A decade later, the critical voices remain silent. Central and East European Migrants' Contributions to Social Protection explains how misperceptions of East-West migration and of the impact of EU legislation contributed to an over-estimation of the impact of migration on social protection. Through case studies of Germany, Ireland, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, Maatsch shows the mechanisms at work and the amplitude of effects.