Challenges and Perspectives of International Migration in Europe within the Brexit Framework

Abstract

Introduction: International migration, a complex, dynamic and multifaceted process, grasps important challenges for the European economies, through its advantages and pitfalls.

Aim: This research is conducted to examine the fundamental credentials of immigration in Europe and its perspectives within the Brexit framework, an ongoing process that induced profound implications.

Method: The authors have applied the cluster analysis and structural equations as the main research methods on a balanced panel comprising 10 receiving countries (most targeted by migrants), members of the European Union (EU-10), for the 2000–2019 timespan (2019 being a Brexit milestone year).The authors have separately extrapolated a sample for 2020–2025 that was further used to identify some perspectives after the Brexit timeline in terms of migration determinants and effects on EU-10 host economies. Cluster analysis is based on a key scenario related to wellbeing, living standards (income level) and poverty risk at destination. These credentials are essentialfor the migration decision and important elements of migrant labour market integration strategies with keen economic consequences, further assessed through the structural equation models.

Findings: Results show that during 2000–2019, among EU-10, the main destination country for immigrants and asylum seekers in terms of welfare and living standards is Germany (both for economic and humanitarian migration), along with the United Kingdom (in the case of economic migration). This situation tends to remain unchanged for the following years even in the Brexit context, as reflected by the 2020–2025 forecast scenarios. Immigration effects on labour market outcomes and economic welfare are extremely significant, being largely discussed within the chapter.

Citation

Noja, G.G., Cristea, M., Ştefea, P. and Panzaru, C. (2020), "Challenges and Perspectives of International Migration in Europe within the Brexit Framework", Özen, E. and Grima, S. (Ed.) Uncertainty and Challenges in Contemporary Economic Behaviour (Emerald Studies in Finance, Insurance, and Risk Management), Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80043-095-220201002