Research Note · Research Notes

Migration Statistics, Carefully

Five methodological pitfalls when reasoning from aggregate migration data to political conclusions.

Maria Saridou · February 2026 · 5 min read

Aggregate migration statistics are frequently used to support political arguments about labour market pressure, welfare burdens, and integration capacity. This research note identifies five common pitfalls that can distort comparative analysis.

Maria Saridou

Political science and European policy research. Writing on welfare states, migration, labour markets, and comparative political economy.