MIGRATION AND

DEVELOPMENT

A case study on Romania between 1989 and 2016

Phd. Julien-Ferencz Kiss University of Oradea Department of Educational Sciences - Romania

The relevance of an analytical course on

migration and development in Romania for
the last 25 years

The purpose of this course is to offer a general overview on the most influential
theories regarding the link between migration and development and to verify their
validity on the particular situation of Romania
During last decade Romanian migrants underwent a lot of negative publicity in Europe,
and we will discuss those matters in a rather different approach
Given the fact that our primary interest is in psychology, we will focus especially on
the micro-factors (personal) related to migration, integrating them propperly into the
more general macro-factors (socio-economical)

CONTENTS
CORE CONCEPTS
THEORIES ON MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT TOWARDS AN INTEGRATIVE
APPROACH
A STRUCTURAL UNDERSTANDING OF ROMANIAS SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND
CULTURAL PATTERNS FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS
MICRO AND MACRO FACTORS OF MIGRATION RELEVANT TO ROMANIAN SOCIETY
THE EVOLUTION AND IMPACT OF MIGRATION IN ROMANIA

CORE CONCEPTS
MIGRATION
EMIGRATION
IMMIGRATION
REFUGEE

THEORIES ON MIGRATION AND

DEVELOPMENT

Neoclassical economic theory

(Arango,
2000)
In his theory, Arango highlights both macro (economical) factors and micro (individual
decission making level) factors that determine migration
At the macro level, migrant-receiving country has an abundance of capital and a lack
of laborforce, while in the country of origin of migrants the situation is reversed, there
is an addition of laborforce and a shortage of capital
Apparently, according to theory, both countries will benefit, resulting in maximizing
the economic profit

THEORIES ON MIGRATION AND

DEVELOPMENT
Neoclassical economic theory (ideal representation)

Laborforce

Capital

THEORIES ON MIGRATION AND

DEVELOPMENT

At micro level, immigrants calculate their benefits and costs of migration act.
1. migrants usually invest rather than consume
2. investments are aiming at improving living conditions
However, the model is not ideal because of the unequal distribution of gains and
losses
The limit of the theory can be observed in recent times when migration took a more
diverse and political determination

THEORIES ON MIGRATION AND

DEVELOPMENT
Dual labour market theory
(Reich, Gordon, Edwards,
1973)
This theory can complete the neoclassical economic theory by examining the
primary(complex skills) and secondary (basik skills) jobs on the labour force
international market
It states that developed countryes (areas) are characterised by a lack of secondary
jobs employees and therefore those areas represent an ideal emigration destination
for employees from developing countryes
However, when it comes to primary jobs there are more chances thet there will follow
an immigration pattern rather than en emigration one that may lead to the so called
brain drain in the origin countries of migrants

THEORIES ON MIGRATION AND

DEVELOPMENT

Transitory migration theory

(Martin, Taylor, 1996)
This particular theory states that there is a clear difference between imigration and
emigration as being related to the development of the origin country of migrants
As emigration tends to grow in developing countryes (migrants need a basic capital in
order to migrate) its positive evolution will slow down when those countries reach a
higher social and economical level
Also, immigration tends to grow in developed countryes

THEORIES ON MIGRATION AND

DEVELOPMENT

(de Haas,
2009)

THEORIES ON MIGRATION AND

DEVELOPMENT

The relative deprivation theory

(Stark, Taylor,

1989)
This theory completes the transitory migration theory, stating that given a relative
deprivation situation, models of succesfull migrants can emulate a culture of migration
as a solution in order to achieve a relative higher social and economical standard

THEORIES ON MIGRATION AND

DEVELOPMENT
The new economics of labor migration

(Stark, Bloom, 1985)

This theory focuses on micro factors, and states that the decission is taken at family
household level and is linked with situations of relative deprivation / or risk of deprivation
that can alter family-households status
However, the decision is taken by analyzing the costs and benefits:
- on one hand there are the benefits of eliminating the risk of deprivation/household status
- on the other hand there is the cost of psychological alienation from family or alteration of
social and professional networks in the home country

THEORIES ON MIGRATION AND

DEVELOPMENT

Also Everett Lees migration theory (1966) involving PUSH-PULL factors can be
integrated in the new economics of labour
Push /Pull factors: economic, social, cultural, ethnic

THEORIES ON MIGRATION AND

DEVELOPMENT
Optimistic perspective on migration

Pessimistic perspective on migration

Modernisation

Desintegration

Transfer of civilsation from North to South

Transfer of elites from South to North

Brain gain

Brain drain

More equality

Less equality

Investments

Consumerism

Development

Dependency

Less emigration

More emigration/imigration

(Taylor,
1999)

SHORT PERSPECTIVE ON ROMANIN

HISTORY
Understanding Romanias current migration trends and impact on its development requires a short
imersion into far and recent hystorical events
Trac populated region (Dacia) colonised by Romans around 100 A.D. The region was Romans Empire
last bastion in Eastern part of the continent, and was colonised beside Romans with pre - German and
Hungarian ethnics in order to develop and to protect its borders against invaders from East.
After the fall of Roman empire, the region was divided into 3 areas, each of them with particular
influence Transilvania (Hungarian and German influence Catholic influence), Moldavia (Russian and
Byzantine-Orthodox influence) and Romanian Country (Turkish/Greek/French and Byzantine-Orthodox
influence)
In XIXth century, Romanian Country and Moldavia united after gained their independence of Turks and
Russians and brought German Carol Hohenzolern as king of the newly formed kingdom. It was the
moment that founded modern Romania and in 1918, king Ferdinand Hohenzolern, Carols son, reunited
Transylvania with the rest of the kingdom and gained a significant role for Romania in Europe.
But in 1948, after the Second WW, Communist took over Romania and untill 1989 the country was
characterised by ambivalent development.

COMMUNIST ERA AND ITS

INFLUENCE

Positive aspects

Negative aspects

Industrialisation

Cultural emptyness

Infrastructure

Lack of goods

Education

Lack of information

Health

Limitation of travel and contact

with foreigners

Houses and Jobs for everyone

Prohibition of individual initiative

Social forced uniformity
Unfunctional social institutions

COMMUNIST ERA AND ITS

INFLUENCE
White collar
primary
professional
-

Need of
independece
Need of culture
Need of
information
Need of mobility
Need of
differentiation
by performance

Blue collar
primary
professional

White collar
secondary
professional

Blue collar
secondary
professional

- Need of
performance
- No
organisational
dependency
- Need of higher
living
standards

- Organisational - Organisational
dependency
dependency
- Dependence
- Low
on
professional
bureaucracy
performance
- Prone to
- No need for
corruption
higher living
- Lack of
standards
professionalis
m

Individuals
supported by
the communist
system
- Social Aid
dependency
- No education
- No will of
higher living
standards
- Prone to
delinquency,
criminality
and
alcoholism

A STRUCTURAL UNDERSTANDING OF ROMANIAS

SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL PATTERNS FOR
THE LAST 25 YEARS

Stages

Period

Events

(Feraru,
2011)

1990-1996

Slow and painfull dismantle industry and socialist institutions

Migration (immigration) of Primary Professionals, especially white collar to U.S.A.,
CANADA and GERMANY
Acces to information

1996-2001

Colapse of industry and institutions

Beginigs of general emigration, still held by costs due to Schengen barrier for employees
IT Development and Foreign Institutional consultancy

2001-2007

Removal of Schengen barriers and the mass emigration

First remmitances of capital with signifficant influence
The consumatory perriod (standard emigration)
Cultural development

2007-present

Romanias acceptance into E.U.

Critical remmitences of capital boosting the economy
The investment perriod
The second brain drain immigration perriod (transitory immigration)
Massive European consultancy and development projects funding

MICRO AND MACRO FACTORS OF

MIGRATION RELEVANT TO ROMANIAN
SOCIETY
MACRO FACTORS OF MIGRATION

MICRO FACTORS OF MIGRATION

ECONOMICAL AND INSTITUTIONAL

DISFUNCTIONS

NEED OF HIGHER LIVING CONDITIONS

CORRUPTION

ADEQUATELY PAID JOBS

HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT FOR INDIVIDUAL

INITIATIVE

NEED OF SELF PROFESSIONAL

DEVELOPMENT

THE EVOLUTION AND IMPACT OF

MIGRATION IN ROMANIA
It is estimated that around 2,3 milion Romanians were constantly involved in migration
during the last 25 years

2,3 milions migrants

(10% of Romanias population in 1989)

(National Institute of Statistics)

3 % Global
5,5 % E.U.

THE EVOLUTION AND IMPACT OF

MIGRATION IN ROMANIA
In the last 10 years the migrants contributed with remmitences in total value of 45
bilion euros

4,5 bilion euros / year remmitences

(4,3 % of Romanias annual budget)

Budget for Education 3 %

Budget for Health 1 %

(National Institute of Statistics)

THE EVOLUTION AND IMPACT OF

MIGRATION IN ROMANIA
The destination of Romanian migrants:

46 % Italy (x 5 earnings)
34 % Spain (x 4 earnings)
7 % Germany (x 7 earnings)
4 % U.K. (x 7 earnings)
3 % Hungary (x2 earnings)
6% Other states

THE EVOLUTION AND IMPACT OF

MIGRATION IN ROMANIA
Motives of migration
Lack of monney 42 %
Poverty 20 %
Lack of jobs 10 %
Lack of house/apartment 7 %
Living conditions 7 %
Bank morgage 7 %
Corruption 4 %
Divorce 3 %
(Feraru, 2007)

THE EVOLUTION AND IMPACT OF

MIGRATION IN ROMANIA

Expenses
(Feraru, 2007)

THE EVOLUTION AND IMPACT OF

MIGRATION IN ROMANIA
Optimistic perspective on migration

Pessimistic perspective on migration

Modernisation

Desintegration

Transfer of civilsation from North to South

Transfer of elites from South to North

Brain gain

Brain drain

More equality

Less equality

Investments

Consumerism

Development

Dependency

Less emigration

More emigration/imigration

Bibliography
Arango, J. (2000). Explaining Migration: A Critical View. International Social Science Journal. 165 (3), 285-296
De Haas, H. (2010). Migration Transitions: A Theoretical and Empirical Inquiry Into the Developmental Drives of
International Migration. Oxford: IMI
Feraru, D. (2011). Migration and Development. Socio-Economical Tendencies. Iasi: Lumen Publishing House
Feraru, D. (2007). Social Costs of External Migration From Romania. Iasi: Lumen Publishing House
Lee, E. (1966). A Theory of Migration. Demography, 3(1), 47-57
Martin, P., Taylor, J. (1996). The Anatomy of A Migration Hump, in Development Strategy, Employment and
Migration: Insights From Models. Edited by J. Taylor, 43-62. Paris: OECD, Development Centre.
Reich, M., Gordon, D., Edwards, D. (1973). Dual Labor Markets. A Theory of Labor Market Segmentation.
American Economic Review, 63 (2), 359-365
Stark, O., Taylor, J. (1989). Relative Deprivation and International Migration.Demography,26(1), 114.
Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/2061490
Stark, O., Bloom, D. (1985). The New Economics of Labor Migration. American Economic Review, 75 (2), 173178
Taylor, J. (1999). The New Economics of Labour Migration and the Role of Remittances in the Migration Process.
International Migration, 37,63-88.