Immigration to the EU Mediterranean countries : case studies of Italy and Spain

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the trends and developments of international migration to the EU Mediterranean countries, because it is a phenomenon which, at the present time, raises an increasing number of questions and concerns. The main theories on international migration are explained and discussed, and the development of migration in the European Union and migration policy arising from it are described. In order to identify some characteristics which are common to the whole region, two countries were chosen as case studies: Italy and Spain. For these two countries, the statistical data on the historical development of migration, current stocks of immiqrants, the geographical distribution of immigrants, their countries of origin, the role of asylum seekers, and illegal immigration were examined. The next step was to conduct an econometric analysis focusing on the impact of immigration on unemployment and wages in the labor markets of Italy and Spain. The results 0f these estimations revealed that, in case of Italian labor market, immigration has a positive impact on employment opportunities but it does not influence wages. The situation in the Spanish labor market is the opposite. The results in this case did not prove any significant relationship between immigration and unemployment. Average wages, on the other hand, were positively influenced by immigration. Despite the fact that these estimations did not show a strictly positive effect on both employment and wages in Italy and Spain, both the analyses concluded that immigration has a positive impact on the labor market of the receiving country. Therefore, this study supports the theory of complementarity between the native-born population and immigrants.