MOBILITY STRATEGIES OF EASTERN EUROPEAN IMMIGRANTS IN SPAIN DURING THE GREAT RECESSION
MOBILITY STRATEGIES OF EASTERN EUROPEAN IMMIGRANTS IN SPAIN DURING THE GREAT RECESSION

Summary/Abstract: The Great Recession which began in late 2007 is characterised in Spain by the severe destruction of jobs which has affected the immigrant population in particular. To deal with the crisis and its consequences, migrants have used a variety of strategies. The aim of this article is to show the patterns of geographical mobility adopted by Romanian and Bulgarian migrants to lessen the impact of the crisis. Internal and international mobility are considered. The article combines qualitative and quantitative methodology, using data collected by the Spanish National Statistics Institute, the Spanish Ministry of Employment and Social Security and interviews with Romanian and Bulgarian immigrants in Spain and in their countries of origin. The conclusions highlight the significant increase in mobility between Spanish regions in the early years of the crisis, with circular, short term and cyclical displacements in relation to the agricultural season calendar. During the crisis the number of immigrants leaving Spain has increased, but not as much as expected. International migration takes a variety of forms: return, circular migration between the places of origin and destination and emigration to a third country.

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