
The Effectiveness of Migrant Integration Policies: An Entropy-Based MAUT Model Using MIPEX Data
Chapter from the book:
Demir,
G.
(ed.)
2025.
Strategic Decision Making in Social Sciences: Applications with Multi-Criteria Decision Making Methods.
Synopsis
This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of migrant integration policies in the 27 member states of the European Union within an objective, multi-criteria evaluation framework. In this context, the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX)—widely referenced in international comparative policy analyses—serves as the basis for the application of the Entropy-based Multi-Attribute Utility Theory (MAUT) method.
Through the entropy method, the information entropy of each integration dimension is calculated, allowing the relative weights of the criteria to be determined without subjective intervention. Based on these calculated weights, the MAUT method is used to compute a total integration utility score for each country, resulting in a comprehensive ranking.
The findings indicate that Finland, Sweden, and Portugal stand out with their holistic and inclusive integration policies, whereas Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Lithuania exhibit notably limited integration performance.
The study highlights that migrant integration policies should be evaluated not only in terms of normative frameworks but also with respect to implementation capacity, service accessibility, and opportunities for social participation. In doing so, it offers policymakers an analytical and comparable policy evaluation tool for more informed decision-making.