Soziologie

A research project by the Rockwool Foundation Berlin has recently attracted public attention. The project of which Dr. Sebastian Otten, a Principal Investigator (PI) of the Research Training Group 2951 “Cross-Border Labour Markets” was part of, examines the labour market effects of cross-border commuting from Czechia to eastern Bavaria after the fall of the Iron Curtain.

The study analyses long-term regional and individual employment outcomes following the gradual opening of the German–Czech border in the 1990s. Using detailed administrative data, the project investigates whether the increasing number of Czech commuters led to job losses or wage pressure for local workers in Bavarian border regions. Its findings show that while there were small, short-term adjustment effects for certain groups, overall employment and wage levels remained largely stable. Importantly, the research highlights that cross-border labour mobility primarily affected migration patterns within Germany rather than displacing local workers.

The project’s findings have even recognised beyond academia, most notably, they were reported by the Süddeutsche Zeitung, one of Germany’s leading national newspapers, demonstrating the public relevance of research conducted within the RTG 2951 framework:

• Süddeutsche Zeitung online

For more details on the project see:

• RF Berlin Research Insight (study summary)
• RF Berlin press release