Co-sponsored by the Center for German and European Studies.
In this talk, Sulin Sardoschau will examine one of the largest labor migration movements in European history, focusing on the recruitment agreements Germany established between 1955 and 1973. By digitizing and analyzing thousands of archival documents, her research reveals how these workers, including 30% of women, profoundly shaped post-war economic development and labor market structures. The presentation will also examine the roles of unions and non-governmental organizations in fostering workplace solidarity and challenges to social narratives around labor and migration.
Sulin Sardoschau is an Assistant Professor of Economics at Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, specializing in labor economics and migration. Her work combines archival analysis and quantitative methods to explore the intersections of workforce diversification, economic growth, and institutional responses in historical and contemporary settings.