DOI: 10.17233/sosyoekonomi.2026.03.18 ISSN: 1305-5577

The Impact of Immigrants on Economic Growth Through R&D and Innovation in the EU

Zeki Yılmaz
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Migration, driven by political and economic dynamics, has become an increasingly intense global phenomenon, posing significant challenges for European Union (EU) countries. This study examines the impact of migration on economic growth within EU member states. The effects of migration vary: skilled labour contributes to research and development (R&D) and innovation processes, whereas unskilled labour influences economic, social, and cultural transformations. Although the literature extensively explores the relationship between migration and R&D and innovation, the economic implications of this relationship have been studied to a lesser extent. To address this gap, our research analyses data from 28 EU countries for the period 1996-2021 using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing approach. The findings indicate that migration has a substantial positive effect on economic growth in the short term, whereas its long-term impact is relatively lower. Furthermore, foreign direct investment and R&D expenditures have been identified as factors supporting economic growth. While the socio-cultural effects of migration are beyond the scope of this study, they can be considered to parallel its economic impacts. The results of this analysis provide valuable insights for policymakers and researchers seeking to understand the direct and indirect effects of migration on economic growth.

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