ABSTRACT
One of the most passionately discussed political issues in Germany in recent decades is the question of whether the country should support immigration and be an Einwanderungsland 2 or a country of immigration, as defined by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. 3 The average German population is increasingly older, with the average age in 2015 being 45.6 years compared to 39.6 years in 2000 (DeStatis – Statistisches Bundesamt 2015). Therefore, it will be a demographic challenge to cope with the needs of senior citizens if there are not enough economically active citizens contributing to the health and pension systems. Although German politicians are reluctant to officially declare Germany as an Einwanderungsland, a recently published report on immigration for the year 2013 certainly does (Bundesamt für Migration and Flüchtlinge 2015). The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) ranks Germany in second position in the list of immigrant-receiving countries (OECD 2014). In 2013 16.5 million people had a Migrationshintergrund or immigrant background: their grandparents, parents or even themselves are immigrants, constituting 20.5 % of the nation’s population (Statistisches Bundesamt 2015).
