Martin Ruhs is an economist specialising in the economics and politics of labour immigration, with a strong international comparative dimension.
Martin has conducted studies of the impacts and policy implications of labour immigration in the UK, Ireland, the US, Thailand and Kuwait. His recent research and publications have focused on migrants in low wage jobs in the UK, employer demand for migrant labour, illegality in migrant labour markets, temporary migration programmes and migrant rights.
Martin teaches a graduate course on “The economics and politics of international labour migration”. In addition to his academic work, Martin has provided policy analysis and advice for various national governments and international institutions including the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Global Commission on International Migration (GCIM). He was Specialist Advisor to an inquiry by the Economic Affairs Committee of the House of Lords into the economic impacts of immigration. Martin is currently a member of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) which advises the UK government on labour shortages and immigration.
Current Projects
Including Work-In-Progress
- “Researching illegality in labour immigration” – co-editor (with Bridget Anderson) of special issue of Population, Space and Place (2009) - Link to journal
- A need for migrant labour? Labour shortages, immigration and public policy.
- The Economics and Politics of Migrant Rights
Selected Publications
Ruhs, M (2009) “Migrant rights, immigration policy and human development”, A background paper prepared for the Human Development Report 2009, United Nations Development Porgramme (UNDP) Click here to open report. External link.
Ruhs, M. (2008) ‘Economic Research and Labour Immigration Policy’, Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 24(3): 404-427 Click here to open pdf (external link)
Anderson, B. and Ruhs, M. 2008, "A Need for Migrant Labour? The micro-level determinants of staff shortages and implications for a skills based immigration policy". A paper prepared for the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC). Link to the MAC website for further details. Click here to download the paper. External links.
Ruhs, M. and P. Martin, 2008, “Numbers vs Rights: Trade-offs and Guest Worker Programs”, International Migration Review 42 (1): 249-265 Click here to open pdf (external link)
Working Papers
"The origins and functions of illegality in migrant labour markets: An analysis of migrants, employers and the state in the UK” (joint with Bridget Anderson), Dec 2007 – click here to download .pdf
“The microfoundations of labour shortages: Deconstructing employer demand for migrant labour in the UK's hospitality sector” (joint with Gareth Matthews), August 2007 – click here to download .pdf
"Changing status, changing fortunes? The impact of acquiring EU status on the earnings of East European migrants in the UK”, April 2007 – draft available upon email request