https://toarcheio.org To Archeio project site Mon, 20 Apr 2020 14:52:01 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.4.1 https://toarcheio.org/items/crisis-and-the-resurgence-of-emigration-from-greece-trends-representations-and-the-multiplicity-of-migrant-trajectories-in-brigit-glorius-and-josefina-dominguez-mujica-eds-european-mob/ Tue, 16 Apr 2019 22:25:51 +0000 http://arc.local/items/crisis-and-the-resurgence-of-emigration-from-greece-trends-representations-and-the-multiplicity-of-migrant-trajectories-in-brigit-glorius-and-josefina-dominguez-mujica-eds-european-mob/ Continued]]> In the context and conjuncture of the crisis affecting the Eurozone as whole, yet shaking mostly its “weakest links”, rising unemployment and steep decreases in salaries and welfare allowances are cited as push factors contributing to what is seen as the emergence of a new emigration wave from Southern Europe. This is especially true for Greece, the country which has been hit hardest by the crisis, recession and austerity, and their social and political consequences. In Greece, there is extended media coverage of this new emigration, which is presented as an one-way option for certain population segments, notably the young and the highly skilled, and hence a drain of the most dynamic part of the country’s labour force. Despite this media attention, however, little is known about the current intensification of emigration from Greece and its characteristics, as well as the experiences of the country’s new “crisis migrants”. This paper aims to partly fill in this gap. It begins by sketching the broad picture and identifying key trends, before moving on to explore key issues in the emerging public discourse. It then zooms into the case of recent Greek migrants to the Netherlands, providing a typology of different mobility trajectories and migration experiences. Through this, we intend to deconstruct a number of conventional assumptions. Firstly, by situating new Greek emigration in a historical continuum, whereby its structural preconditions predated the crisis. Secondly, by identifying the qualitative dimensions of rupture through which the intra-EU mobility from Greece has undergone a shift from a career choice to one largely motivated by necessity. Finally, by highlighting those aspects that problematize idealistic perceptions of life

]]> https://toarcheio.org/items/crisis-brain-drain-short-term-pain-long-term-gain/ Tue, 16 Apr 2019 22:25:50 +0000 http://arc.local/items/crisis-brain-drain-short-term-pain-long-term-gain/ Continued]]> The emigration of professionals from Greece is a phenomenon that predates the current crisis. It is historically attributed to the low demand for highly skilled work in the Greek labour market and to related structural malfunctions of the Greek productive model of the past decades. Yet it is during the past few years that it has acquired alarming dimensions. In this chapter we explore the magnitude, dynamics and impacts of the phenomenon at times of crisis, recession and austerity. We further provide evidence on the aspirations and experiences of the emigrants themselves based on which we propose policies that could be implemented to alleviate its negative consequences.

]]> https://toarcheio.org/items/why-high-school-students-aspire-to-emigrate-evidence-from-greece/ Tue, 16 Apr 2019 22:25:50 +0000 http://arc.local/items/why-high-school-students-aspire-to-emigrate-evidence-from-greece/ Continued]]> This paper investigates why Greek high school students aspire to emigrate, in relation to their educational and socio-economic background. Through fieldwork research conducted at three specialist high schools in Thessaloniki, three main conclusions have been drawn. Firstly, potential emigrants are ambitious, with high educational and professional expectations and a clear migration plan. Secondly, they are middle and upper middle class and excel at school—in socio-economic and educational terms, they therefore constitute the most dynamic Greek youths. Thirdly, in a period of recession on a European level, the alarming fact is that student emigration can undermine recovery for a country in crisis such as Greece. That is, middle-class shrinkage caused by the recession can be aggravated by emigration, which in turn might cost the loss of developmental human resources for Greece and a deepening of the recession. This can further stimulate migration, resulting in a vicious circle between crisis and emigration. Furthermore, if potential emigrants do not return because temporary emigration for studies becomes permanent migration for work, the economic crisis is worsened, and Greece’s prospects for development are further undermined.

]]> https://toarcheio.org/items/greeces-new-emigration-at-times-of-crisis/ Tue, 16 Apr 2019 22:25:42 +0000 http://arc.local/items/greeces-new-emigration-at-times-of-crisis/ Continued]]> Although considerable research is being carried out on the phenomenon of immigration to Greece, there is a notable lack of scientific attention on the recent resurgence of emigration at times of recession and austerity. Aiming to partly fill in this gap, this paper contextualizes the recent resurgence of emigration within Greece’s changing and complexifying migratory landscape. In so doing, and drawing on quantitative and qualitative data, the paper describes the magnitude, dynamics and main destinations of the current crisis-driven emigration and outlines its demographics makeup. It further provides evidence on the multiplicity of migration trajectories and discusses the prospect of return and the potential of the development of transnational economic ties between Greece and its highly skilled emigrants.

]]> https://toarcheio.org/items/investing-in-leaving-the-greek-case-of-international-migration-of-professionals/ Tue, 16 Apr 2019 22:25:27 +0000 http://arc.local/items/investing-in-leaving-the-greek-case-of-international-migration-of-professionals/ Continued]]> In the last twenty years, the ‘international migration of professionals’ from Greece has increased. This paper is based on an extensive survey of Greek professionals who work or have worked in another country. It is the first ever research on the topic in Greece and the first one in the international literature to include participants who are currently abroad or have repatriated. The aim of the paper is threefold. First, it presents the main characteristics of this phenomenon. Second, to explain why Greece, alongside other peripheral countries, suffers from migration of its professionals: in contrast to a dominant view insisting on an allegedly abundant supply of highly skilled labour, it is argued that the phenomenon is primarily due to their low demand in the Greek labour market. Third, to argue that such migration can have positive implications for a country, not only when these people return but also when they stay abroad.

]]> https://toarcheio.org/items/the-mutually-reinforcing-relation-between-international-migration-of-highly-educated-labour-force-and-economic-crisis-the-case-of-greece/ Tue, 16 Apr 2019 22:25:19 +0000 http://arc.local/items/the-mutually-reinforcing-relation-between-international-migration-of-highly-educated-labour-force-and-economic-crisis-the-case-of-greece/ Continued]]> Although several studies aim at analysing the causes and impacts of the current economic crisis, especially involving the case of Greece, the role that highly educated population holds has not received wider attention. Based on an examination of both secondary data on the Greek economy/labour market and primary data collected by a survey that included 1821 graduates, this paper shows that underutilization of highly educated population harmed the competitiveness of the Greek economy, a factor which has significantly contributed to the creation of the current debt crisis and fostered the migration of graduates.

]]> https://toarcheio.org/items/highly-skilled-migration-what-differentiates-the-brains-who-are-drained-from-those-who-return-in-the-case-of-greece/ Tue, 16 Apr 2019 22:25:19 +0000 http://arc.local/items/highly-skilled-migration-what-differentiates-the-brains-who-are-drained-from-those-who-return-in-the-case-of-greece/ Continued]]> The migration of highly educated population (brain drain) poses extremely significant impacts on origin countries’ development, especially in cases in which, owing to their economic and social structures, these countries cannot promote the efficient allocation of their professionals. At the same time, the decision of those migrants to return home or remain abroad is affected by several factors. This paper aims to analyse this phenomenon by using primary data collected from Greece. Our findings indicate that it is not reasonable to expect that a large share of these people is likely to return, especially given the ongoing economic and social crises that further exacerbate the observed mismatch between supply and demand for a highly educated workforce in the country. These empirical results can assist the formulation of specific policy measures in order to reap the benefits of those individuals’ presence abroad, which can undoubtedly enhance the developmental prospects of European countries. This study constitutes the first one on brain drain from Greece, while it is also the first study to compare highly skilled migrants who still work abroad to those who have returned. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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