Immigration Interviews
The great escape: European migrants fleeing the recessionAs the European economic crisis deepens, more and more people are leaving to seek a better life in emerging economies around the world. We speak to four who have moved abroad
For years Europeans have wrestled with the issue of immigration, from worries about changing national identity to integration and use of resources. And with Romanian and Bulgarian citizens eligible to work in the EU next year, the debate over whether – and how many – immigrants from struggling economies should be allowed to stay is as fraught as ever.
Yet something has changed. From Ireland to Greece, young Europeans are now the ones desperately seeking exit strategies from economies in free fall. Meanwhile, politicians from emerging economies such as Brazil or countries with skills shortages such as Australia are busy publicising the opportunities they offer to old-world escapees. But what is life like for those who take up the opportunities to follow the money and move abroad for work?
UK to BotswanaThe popular image of British expats used to be of retirees, soaking up the sun and the slower pace of life on the Spanish coast. Not any more, according to Home Office figures. Of the 4.7 million people who currently live outside the UK, 93% are of working age. Yet while the numbers leaving grew for the past decade, they peaked in 2008 at 427,000 and have now dropped to around 350,000 a year – possibly because in a recession people need to save up to move abroad. But the figures have been enough to spark mild panic and fears of a "brain drain". Conservative MP Nick de Bois said this month that it was worrying that "our most economically active are leaving to apply their talents elsewhere", saying many are heading to "growth economies" elsewhere in the world.
One of those lured by the siren call of countries with emerging economies is Shiraz Chakera, 34, who now works for Unicef in Gaborone, Botswana: "Until the 'bonfire of the
For years Europeans have wrestled with the issue of immigration, from worries about changing national identity to integration and use of resources. And with Romanian and Bulgarian citizens eligible to work in the EU next year, the debate over whether – and how many – immigrants from struggling economies should be allowed to stay is as fraught as ever.
Yet something has changed. From Ireland to Greece, young Europeans are now the ones desperately seeking exit strategies from economies in free fall. Meanwhile, politicians from emerging economies such as Brazil or countries with skills shortages such as Australia are busy publicising the opportunities they offer to old-world escapees. But what is life like for those who take up the opportunities to follow the money and move abroad for work?
UK to BotswanaThe popular image of British expats used to be of retirees, soaking up the sun and the slower pace of life on the Spanish coast. Not any more, according to Home Office figures. Of the 4.7 million people who currently live outside the UK, 93% are of working age. Yet while the numbers leaving grew for the past decade, they peaked in 2008 at 427,000 and have now dropped to around 350,000 a year – possibly because in a recession people need to save up to move abroad. But the figures have been enough to spark mild panic and fears of a "brain drain". Conservative MP Nick de Bois said this month that it was worrying that "our most economically active are leaving to apply their talents elsewhere", saying many are heading to "growth economies" elsewhere in the world.
One of those lured by the siren call of countries with emerging economies is Shiraz Chakera, 34, who now works for Unicef in Gaborone, Botswana: "Until the 'bonfire of the