Alejandro Mantecón

Challenges in Lifestyle Migration Research: Reflections and Findings about the Spanish Crisis

Abstract The lifestyle migration conceptual framework is based on the motivation for moving reported by the migrants themselves. We discuss the operability of this approach, which is built on the subjective assessments of individuals. It diminishes the actual importance of economic factors and has an underlying ideological element associated with the categorisation of people according to their nationality. A comparative analysis of residential variations by nationalities between 2005 and 2010 in Alicante (Spain) shows that, when faced with the economic crisis, the so-called lifestyle migrants are changing their mobility patterns in a way similar to the rest of the migrants. This calls into question the adequacy of juxtaposing lifestyle and labour migration. Both theory and research show that this duality, instead of clarifying applied research, makes it more difficult. We argue that the lifestyle migration framework is inadequate to study changes in mobility patterns, particularly when using a quantitative approach.

Transnationality and Social Integration within Lifestyle Migration. A comparative study of two cases in Mexico and Spain

International mobility in search of amenity spaces for long-stay tourism is a growing phenomenon. U.S. citizens have practiced this lifestyle migration for decades to Latin American countries, especially to Mexico. British citizens move to Spain for similar reasons. In this paper we make a comparative analysis of these two international contexts in order to gain greater insight into the diversity and breadth of this type of migration. The study uses quantitative surveys administered at each field site. First, we analyze the phenomenon of U.S. citizens’ mobility to Mazatlán, Mexico. Second, we analize citizens from the United Kingdom residing in El Campello, Spain. In particular we compare their socio-demographic profiles, transnational practices and some patterns of social integration.

El impacto de la crisis económica sobre la movilidad internacional de los residentes extranjeros en la provincia de Alicante

espanolIntroduccion: En este estudio se investigan los efectos de la crisis economica en los flujos migratorios internacionales. Especificamente, se realiza un analisis comparado sobre los comportamientos en la movilidad residencial de los principales grupos de residentes a partir de las Estadisticas de Variaciones Residenciales (EVR) de 2005 a 2010 en Alicante. Metodo: Se analizan los microdatos de las EVR para comparar las entradas y salidas de inmigrantes procedentes de los paises que aglutinan a las personas que se trasladan orientadas por motivos mas cercanos a la esfera del ocio que a la del trabajo, con el grupo de nacionalidades que concentra a la mayoria de los inmigrantes laborales que llegaron atraidos por las ofertas de empleo generadas con la expansion del sector inmobiliario. Resultados: Entre los anos 2007 y 2009 se redujeron mucho las variaciones residenciales de entrada en la provincia Alicante desde el extranjero, mientras que se incrementaron las variaciones relacionadas con las salidas. Aunque existen diferencias en el balance de entradas y salidas segun la zona de la provincia, la nacionalidad y la edad de los migrantes, la crisis parece asociarse con una tendencia a la reduccion del numero de residentes extranjeros en general. Discusion o Conclusion: Se concluye que la crisis no solo ha generado un exodo de los ciudadanos con menos recursos economicos, tambien ha provocado la salida masiva de aquellos otros inmigrantes cuya presencia en Espana se asocia con el consumo. EnglishIntroduction: The economic crisis effects on the international migration flows are examined in this study. Specifically we carry out a comparative analysis of the residential mobility patterns of the main groups of residents from the Residential Variation Statistics since 2005 to 2010 in Alicante. Method: We compare the cluster of immigrants from countries where people move for leisure-oriented reasons and the group of nationalities that concentrates most labour migrants, attracted by the jobs that the expansion of the real state sector generated. Results: Between 2007 and 2009, there was a large reduction in the entry of foreigners to Alicante province. At the same time, our analysis shows that more foreigners left the province. Although there are differences in the balance of entries and departures by region, nationality and age of migrants, the economic crisis appears to be associated with a clear negative generalized balance affecting all profiles of foreigners. Discussion or Conclusion: We conclude that the crisis has not only led to an exodus of citizens with less economic resources, it has also caused the mass departure of those other immigrants whose presence in Spain is associated with consumption.

Fragmentación socio-espacial, inmigración europea y discursos políticos en la Provincia de Alicante

La construccion de urbanizaciones en las periferias de los municipios bajo el pretexto del desarrollo turistico ha transformado la configuracion territorial de multitud de poblaciones en las regiones mediterraneas espanolas. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar los discursos que los politicos con responsabilidades directas en los respectivos ayuntamientos producen a la hora de explicar las interrelaciones creadas entre los procesos de fragmentacion socioespacial fraguados en el periodo de expansion, el incremento de la inmigracion europea procedente de paises con un PIB per capita mayor que el de Espana y los efectos ocasionados por la crisis economica iniciada entre 2007 y 2008.

La participación política de los residentes británicos y alemanes en España: el caso de San Miguel de Salinas, Alicante

This study focuses on the northern European citizens living in the Alicante provin- ce (on Spains Mediterranean coast), who are more like immigrants than tourists. changes in many towns. Our objective is to examine the political role of these citizens in the regions where they are more present. Our analysis is based on de- mographic data and data on participation in the 2011 local election, as well as on a qualitative approach that delves into the informal processes of political partici- institutions has not grown at the same rate as their demographic weight is a con- sequence of both their lack of interest in public affairs and the interest of political elites in deactivating that participation.