MIGRATION IN SOUTHERN EUROPE

1
MIGRATION IN SOUTHERN EUROPE

• Instanbul, October 2004
• Joaquín Arango
  Universidad Complutense, Madrid

2
INTRODUCTION

• Europe has become one of the major immigration
  regions in the world
• Three generations of receiving countries in
  Europe
• Different on account of
• timing
• structural characteristics

3
INTRODUCTION

• A southern European pattern of immigration?
• Southern Europe Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece
• Commonalities and differences
• A tentative, interpretive picture with a zoom
•  

4
THE TIMING FACTOR 

• A recent migratory transition, after a century of
  outmigration
• 'Age effects'
• Generation effects

5
'AGE EFFECTS'

• Not very large proportions yet, but rapidly
  increasing
• A 'young' socio-demographic profile
• High rates of economic activity
• Greater spatial and occupational mobility
• A positive economic and fiscal balance

6
GENERATION EFFECTS

• Becoming countries of immigration in the era of
  globalization
• A considerable (and changing) degree of diversity
• Post-fordism, flexibility, de-regulation

7
STRUCTURAL FACTORS

• A vigorous demand for foreign labor, mostly
  unskilled
• The strength of crucial sectors
• A large informal sector
• A permissive, lax civic culture
• Special difficulties for controlling entries and
  stays

8
A high proportion of migrantsin irregular
condition

• A chronic, structural feature
• Despite frequent opportunities for regularization
• The overriding issue in southern Europe
• Few asylum seekers and refugees

9
The irregularity equation

• A strong demand for foreign labor
• A large underground economy
• A narrow front door
• Special difficulties for controlling flows

10
The inability to control entries

• Location and physical characteristics
• High rates of circulation (tourism)
• Loopholes in Schengenland
• A misplaced emphasis?

11
The inability to control stays

• An extended underground economy
• The weakness of labour inspection
• A lax, permissive legal and civic culture
• Difficulties to expel

12
A limited degree of integration

• A high proportion of newcomers
• A subbordinate insertion in highly segmented
  labor markets
• Irregularity
• Limited Welfare States

13
Three major concerns

• Human tragedies stemming from clandestine flows
  and trafficking
• Extended irregularity and its deleterous
  consequences
• A high incidence of social exclusion

14
Au lieu de conclusion

• An overall positive contribution
• An inadequate, unrealistic migration regime
• Pressing concerns
• Strong markets, weak states?