Alexandra Tragaki

Ethnic Characteristics and Geographical Distribution of Immigrants in Greece

This paper examines the geographical dimension of immigration in Greece. More particularly, this study presents the distinctive economic, demographic and settlement features of the different groups of immigrants in the Greek prefectures. The majority of immigrant workers in Greece come from the Balkan countries, the most populous ethnic group being the Albanians who account for almost 60 percent of the total immigrant population. There are significant disparities between different ethnic groups regarding their educational level and occupational characteristics. The profile of the average immigrant worker in Greece is young, from an ex-communist country; men migrate mainly for economic reasons while women migrate mostly for family reasons; women often have a higher level of education than men. There are also significant differences as far as the spatial distribution of the various ethnic groups is concerned. Some groups, such as the Philippinos, Georgians, or the Poles, show high geographical concentration, while other ethnic groups, for instance the Albanians, follow, more or less, the spatial distribution of the Greek population. One of the most interesting findings of this research is that settlement patterns are mostly dictated by geography: immigrants from neighbouring countries tend to have similar preferences or installation criteria. This is the case for immigrants from Eastern European countries. In contrast, Albanians seem to follow their own settlement pattern.

Immigrant population in Italy during the first decade of the 21st century: changing demographics and modified settlement patterns

Changing demographics and modified settlement patterns have reshaped the socio-economic context of Southern Europe at the turn of the century. Within this context, Italy has become one of the major European destinations for migrants; their numbers have more than tripled during the years 2000–2010. This paper analyses the changing demography of (legal) migrants to Italy, as well as their settlement patterns and spatial distribution over time. Since the onset of the new millennium, immigrant populations in Southern Europe in general, and in Italy in particular, have been experiencing rapidly increasing volumes and rapidly changing demographics. The feminization of foreign population, its changing age structure and ethnic composition are some of the most striking features. Meanwhile, noteworthy changes have been registered in the spatial distribution of immigrants. Different ethnic groups follow different settlement patterns and register different levels of spatial dispersion. Though the migrant population in Italy remains more concentrated in the north, disparities between north–centre and south have decreased over the last decade. Analysis at a lower spatial level (Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics level 3) shows a higher variability across time and counties, partly due to a changing ethnic composition and the increased numbers of immigrants.

The Regional Dimension of Migration in Greece

Since the 1990s, Greece, like other southern European countries, has changed from being a country of migratory origin to a destination country for migrants. This shift has been the result of fundamental political and economic reforms across Eastern Europe, as well as demographic and economic developments within Greece. The first officially available data on migrants in Greece – country of origin, employment, education level or marital status – were extracted from the 2001 population census. There are interesting points to be made regarding their spatial distribution. Migrants of Albanian origin, the most heavily represented migrant ethnic group, have a more or less even distribution across Greek regions. However, migrants of other ethnic origin seem to cluster in different regions. The first section of this chapter offers a panorama of how migrants are dispersed across Greece with respect to their country of origin. This is followed by an attempt to identify the causal economic, social, and demographic factors of the spatial distribution of migration, using various econometric tools, including spatial regression.

Demographics: the vulnerable heel of the European Achilles

Europe is currently under pressure from both the economy and demography. Six years after the onset of the global financial crisis, there are still no signs of a strong recovery. Moreover, demographic shifts have affected the size and structure of the European population, which is the fastest ageing in the world. These trends are inexorable and will be very hard to break unless major changes take place in the mentality of both policymakers and society at large. This article explains how the mixture of these adverse economic and demographic prospects puts the whole continent at high risk and will undermine its economic and political influence in the years to come.

Demography and security, a complex nexus: the case of the Balkans

Demographic shifts, settlement patterns and population movements profoundly alter the geo-political landscape with important ramifications for human security. Though the theoretical framework is not as yet fully elaborated, the growing volume of relevant literature reflects a fast-growing interest in the political and international implications of demographic phenomena. Demography poses new challenges both for public policy and for international relations. This paper aims to offer an overview of the possible linkages between demographic dynamics and human security, focusing on the case of south-eastern Europe in the post-communism era. This region gives a striking illustration of the relevance of demographic trends to security, highlighting the multilayered linkages between economic and social transition and stability.

The new world looks younger as the old world gets older: the fertility divide between the US and Europe

Due to divergent fertility rates, the demographic gap between the US and Europe is steadily increasing. Despite significant regional variation, European fertility rates are currently well below replacement level. On the other side of the Atlantic, the continuing upsurge in fertility is definitely unique within the industrialised world. Demographers are quite perplexed by the exceptional American demographic pattern. The aim of this paper is, first, to examine the differing fertility patterns in the US and Europe; second, to identify possible explanatory factors behind the current divergence; and, finally, to present current challenges and future implications.