Frederic Gerdon will present our latest research on algorithmic refugee placement systems at the In_equality Conference 2026 in Konstanz (15-17 April). Our work examines a critical question at the intersection of artificial intelligence, migration policy, and social integration: How do AI-based allocation systems affect refugee integration outcomes—and what inequalities might they create or reinforce?
Frederic Gerdon will present our latest research at the In_equality Conference 2026 in Konstanz this April. Our work examines a critical question at the intersection of artificial intelligence, migration policy, and social integration: How do AI-based allocation systems affect refugee integration outcomes—and what inequalities might they create or reinforce?
Background: Refugee Placement
When refugees arrive in a host country, the location where they are initially placed can dramatically shape their future prospects. We focused our analysis on the German context, comparing the current Königsteiner Schlüssel system (which allocates refugees quasi-randomly across states) with algorithm-based matching approaches.
To investigate these questions, we developed an agent-based simulation framework that combines sociological theory with real-world survey data. This allows us to model different allocation mechanisms and trace their long-term impacts on both economic and social integration.
Why This Matters
As AI-based decision tools become more prevalent in public policy, we need rigorous methods to evaluate not just their average performance, but their distributional consequences. Our simulation framework provides a way to think systematically about the trade-offs involved in deploying such systems.