IZA Prize in Labor Economics Awarded to Migration Experts in Oslo, August 25

BONN, Germany, August 22, 2011 -

On August 25, 2011, the leading U.S. economists George Borjas (Harvard University) and Barry Chiswick (George Washington University) will receive the 10^th IZA Prize in Labor Economics in Oslo. Worth 50,000 euros, the prestigious prize is awarded annually by the German-based Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), an international think tank for labor market issues with over 1,000 network members around the world.

Borjas and Chiswick were selected as this year’s prize-winners for their outstanding contributions to the analysis of immigration, integration and open labor markets. Their work has demonstrated the economic benefits of immigration as well as the need for an effective integration policy. These issues are also of high relevance for the current political debate in Norway.

After Berlin and Washington, Oslo is the third national capital to be chosen as the venue of the festive award ceremony. The event coincides with the annual congress of the European Economic Association (EEA), which attracts hundreds of economists from all over the world. Nobel laureate Chris Pissarides, who is also the winner of the 2005 IZA Prize, will give the opening speech at the IZA Prize Event as the current President of the EEA.

IZA invites all journalists interested in migration and labor market issues to attend the award ceremony at the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel on Thursday, August 25. IZA Director Klaus F. Zimmermann will present the prize during a gala dinner (8:00-10:00 p.m.). Interviews with the prize-winners can be arranged in the afternoon upon request.

More information about the IZA Prize: www.iza.org/prize

Program of the award ceremony: www.iza.org/prize2011/program

To register your attendance and for interview requests contact:

Mark Fallak
Corporate Communications, IZA
E-mail: fallak@iza.org
Phone: +49-228-3894-223
Mobile: +49-175-2922-778

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