Jasper Dag Tjaden

Professor for Applied Social Research and Public Policy

University of Potsdam

Biography

Since January 2021, I am Professor for Applied Social Research and Public Policy at the Economic and Social Science Department of the University of Potsdam, Germany.

Before joining the University of Potsdam, I worked for the United Nations as data analytics coordinator for the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Global Migration Data Analysis Centre, for the World Bank as research consultant, and for the Migration Policy Group as policy analyst.

Have a look at my publications via Google Scholar.

Interests

International migration
Migrant integration
Discrimination
Social Media
Elections
Policy impact evaluation
Quantitative research methods

Education

PhD Economic and Social Sciences, 2016
University of Bamberg
Fulbright scholar, 2016
City University of New York, Graduate Center
Msc. European Studies, 2011
London School of Economics and Political Science

Selected Publications

Please find full list of publications here.

Khalil, S. & Tjaden, J (2024). The effect of reception centres on integration of refugees – Quasi-experimental evidence from Germany. European Societies. Online first.

Tjaden, J., & Heidland, T. (2024). Did Merkel’s 2015 decision attract more migration to Germany?. European Journal of Political Research. Online first.

Tjaden, J., & Spörlein, C. (2023). How Much Do “Local Policies” Matter for Refugee Integration? An Analytical Model and Evidence from a Highly Decentralized Country. International Migration Review, 0(0).

Tjaden, J. (2023). Web Scraping for Migration, Mobility, and Migrant Integration Studies: Introduction, Application, and Potential Use Cases. International Migration Review, 0(0). 2022

Tjaden, J., Haarmann, E., & Savaskan, N. (2022). Experimental evidence on improving COVID-19 vaccine outreach among migrant communities on social media. Nature Scientific reports, 12(1), 16256.

Tjaden, J. (2021). Measuring migration 2.0: a review of digital data sources. Comparative Migration Studies, 9(1), 1-20.

Tjaden, J., & Gninafon, H. (2021). Raising Awareness About the Risk of Irregular Migration: Quasi‐Experimental Evidence from Guinea. Population and Development Review. Online first.

Tjaden, J., & Dunsch, F. A. (2021). The effect of peer-to-peer risk information on potential migrants–Evidence from a randomized controlled trial in Senegal. World Development, 145, 105488. 2020

Tjaden, J. D., Schwemmer, C., & Khadjavi, M. (2018). Ride with me: Ethnic discrimination in social markets; European Sociological Review, Volume 34, Issue 4, 1 August 2018, Pages 418–432.

Tjaden, J. D. & Auer, Daniel (2018). Linking Migration Intentions with Flows: Evidence and Potential Use; International Migration, 57 (1), Pages 36-57.

Khadjavi, M., & Tjaden, J. D. (2018). Setting the bar-An experimental investigation of immigration requirements; Journal of Public Economics, Volume 165, Pages 160-169.

Tjaden, J. D., & Hunkler, C. (2017). The optimism trap: Migrants’ educational choices in stratified education systems. Social Science Research, 67, 213-228.

Projects

Political Content on Social Media

The Potsdam Social Media Monitor (PSMM) was founded in 2024 at the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences at the University of Potsdam. Our mission is to develop methods to measure the use, content and impact of social media and to create accountability tools for social media platforms. Out pilot projects measure exposure to right-wing parties on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and X.

Social media & Migration (Bibliography)

This bibliography is a non-exhaustive list of studies at the intersection of socia media data and migration studies. This bibliography is online, supplementary material for a forthcoming book chapter. The bibliography is organized along several sections: 1) General reviews, 2) Measuring stocks and flows, 3) Integration/Inclusion and Discrimination, 4) Public discourse and hate speech, 5) platforms as data collection tools, 6) Methods, 7) Ethics. Let me know if I missed something.

Vaccine use in migrant communities

This project investigates the potential barriers to accessing the COVID-19 vaccines among recent migrants and refugees.

How does shared accommodation affect the integration of refugees?

This project investigates the effects of shared accommodation such as reception centers on the medium-term integration of refugees in terms of employment, language skills and contacts with Germany. We use quasi-experimental methods.

Measuring migration behaviour through WhatsApp use

This project investigates the potential of WhatsApp for follow-up panel surveys in low-income settings to measure migration. In this methodological study, the team compares response rates across various survey modes.

Public investment in language courses for refugees in Germany

This exploratory project aims to assess the investment gap in funding for language courses. Building on a comprehensive review of available studies on the labour market impacts of language acquisition programmes, the project will estimate the potential reduction in public spending through the increase in investment in language courses.

Re-migration preferences

In collaboration with the International Organization for Migration, this study conducts a Discrete Choice Experiment with migrant that have returned to countries in East Africa. The experiment elicits migrants’ preferences towards re-migrating abroad.

The role of information in the decision-making process of potential irregular migrants

The project in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration, funded by the Government of the Netherlands investigates the role of various drivers of irregular migration, including information on costs, earnings, and risks, among potential migrants in West Africa and Ethiopia. The project involves large scale primary data collection and experimental and quasi-experimental designs.

Migration of European elites across the centuries

Author: Jasper Tjaden (University of Potsdam; Germany) Introduction Ever wondered where Einstein was born and died? A few months ago, I was on a train reading a magazine. On the last few pages, they featured an obituary.

Policy

CGDEV: Are Public Information Campaigns for Migrants Effective? Lessons for the Biden Administration

In this Blog, Helen and I review recent literture on the effectivenes of information campaigns for migrants and give recommendations for the new Biden administration.

Helen Dempster, Jasper Dag Tjaden

Last updated on Apr 28, 2021

IOM: Using “Big Data” to forecast migration

Jasper Dag Tjaden, Andres Arau, Muertizha Nuermaimaiti, Imge Cetin, Eduardo Acostamadiedo, Marzia Rango

Last updated on Feb 28, 2021

Migration Policy Practice: Expert opinion on future immigration to the European Union by 2030

There is growing interest among policymakers in the European Union and beyond to better prepare for future migration. Migration forecasts could help Member States move away from reactive, ad hoc responses to ones based on preparedness and anticipation.

Rhea Ravenna Sohst, Jasper Dag Tjaden

Last updated on Feb 28, 2021

IOM: The future of migration to Europe:

Rhea Ravenna Sohst, Jasper Dag Tjaden, Helga de Valk, Susanne Melde

Last updated on Feb 28, 2021

IOM: The impact of mobile cinema events on potential migrants in Guinea

Marie-Luce Bia-Zafinikamia, Jasper Dag Tjaden, Horace Gninafon

Last updated on Feb 28, 2021

IOM: Migrants as Messengers

The report presents key results from a rigorous impact evaluation that assessed the impact of the Migrants as Messengers (MaM) information events in Dakar, Senegal. MaM was a peer-to-peer awareness-raising campaign implemented in Senegal, Guinea and Nigeria from December 2017 to March 2019.

Felipe Alexander Dunsch, Jasper Dag Tjaden, William Quiviger

Last updated on Feb 28, 2021

See all

Teaching

For a full list of courses, visit my university website

Introduction to Policy Analysis

This course offers an accessible introduction to two core questions of political science: How and why are certain policies adopted and what is their impact?

Discrimination - Theory, evidence and policy responses

This course introduces students to theory, measurement, evidence and policy responses regarding discrimination along various categories such as ethnic origin, gender, appearance, age etc.

Evidence-based policy making - Evaluation & Monitoring

This course introduces students to main (qualitative and quantiative) approaches and methodologies for measuring the impact of policy programmes, projects or reforms.

International Migration - Introduction to theory and evidence

This course introduces students to the main theories, patterns and policy responses regarding international migration.

Intro to R for Social Scientists

This course offers an accessible and easy introduction to one of the fastest growing statistical packages used in social science and data science more generally. The course is designed for students with limited stats and data analysis background or those transitioning from other software packages (e.g. Stata; SPSS). All materials are available online allowing students to take the course at their own pace. This course will be updated over time. Feedback welcome!

Refugee Integration in Germany

Over a million people sought refuge in Germany since 2014. After a review of the meaning, theories and measurement of “integration”, the course will cover various dimensions of integration including the labour market, education, housing, discrimination and others. We will review the latest literature and discuss integration outcomes in relation to relevant government policies.

Research design in the social sciences

This course introduces students to what social science research is all about and how it works. Students will be first introduced to basic principles of how knowledge is produced. After students will work though various research designs, apply them to research questions and master the advantages and disadvantages of various methods.

Media

Potsdam Study: Right wing AFD dominates TikTok.

During the 2024 elections in 3 German states, we monitored the expsure to political content of new, and politically neutral users.

Broad media coverage on new “Merkel effect” study

Der Spiegel, ZDF, Frankfurter Allgemeine, Focus Online etc. report on new study

Vox, Apr 1, 2021: The US is telling migrants “don’t come.” They might not be listening.

How much does Biden’s messaging about the border matter?

Migration Data Portal, Apr 16, 2020: Forecasting the future of migration—many approaches, one commonality: uncertainty

Policymakers want to know what’s coming. Migration forecasts are not just in high demand, they are also difficult to navigate. Some approaches to discuss the future of migration require advanced knowledge of statistics, others require quite a bit of imagination. GMDAC’s Jasper Tjaden and Eduardo Acostamadiedo discuss the pros and cons of different approaches and what the experts think of future migration trends to the EU in 2030.

Guardian, Apr 12, 2018: When we think of migrants, why not include Einstein and Ronaldo

Many footballers, Oscar nominees and Nobel laureates are migrants. It’s time to overturn stereotypes about migration.

Contact

https://www.uni-potsdam.de/de/socrespolicy/index
August-Bebel-Straße 89, University of Potsdam Department of Economic and Social Sciences , D-14482 Potsdam