EMIGRATION FROM ROMANIA
EMIGRATION FROM ROMANIA

Summary/Abstract: Emigration from the European Union periphery, from Central and Eastern Europe, especially from the Baltic States and the Balkans, has been intense and is resulting in depopulation of these countries. This paper examines the case of Romania. After making an overview of the population dynamics after the Second World War, the paper proceeds to discuss the transition to a market economy that was too rapid and created major difficulties, changing Romania’s industrial structure drastically. In spite of the country’s economic growth, its cities could not create sufficient jobs to absorb the surplus labor force from both rural and urban areas, which led to massive and continuous emigration. Remittances by Romanians working abroad have contributed to the country’s economic development, reducing its foreign trade deficit and improving the standard of living, but have also led to excessive investment. Although emigration contributed to the reduction of unemployment rate, its negative aspects such as brain drain should not be neglected. Depopulation of rural areas is extremely high, and the government measures to remedy the situation are not bearing fruit. Such a situation is untenable and requires reexamination of the EU’s regional policy.

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