Case Study Migration: UK Spain

Lesson Aims:

• To know why UK pensioners are migrating to Spain;

• To understand some of the positive and negative impacts of this migration.

Introduction• Most immigrants to the UK are relatively young.

• Emigrants from the UK tend to be older; 60% are over 45.

• There are now significant permanent British populations in several other EU countries.

• The most popular of these countries is Spain.

Introduction• Many emigrants to Spain choose to live in purpose built

villa developments.

• One such example is the Urbanisacion La Marina, near Alicante, construction of which began in 1985.

• It has the largest proportion of non-Spanish residents of any municipality in Spain. Around 8,000 of the 10,000 residents are foreign, and about half of them are from the UK.

NUMBERS OF BRITONS IN SPAIN

Total Inc. part-time Pensioners % male % female

761,000 990,000 74,636 42 41

BREAKDOWN BY AGE %

0-14 15-24 25-44 45-64 64+

9.5 4.9 24.7 39.4 21.5

EMPLOYMENT STATUS%

Employed Unemployed Inactive

UK born/ nationals 30.4 6.3 63.4

Locally born 47.5 7.7 44.7

Why are Pensioners Migrating?• Mediterranean Climate.

• Communications networks.

• Lifestyle of Spanish people.

• Cost of Living.

• Property Market.

• Awareness of destination.

• Expatriate community.

• Leisure facilities.

• Living longer.

• Health care.

Migration living

Costa Del Sol

Welcome to Sunny Spain

• Migrating to Spain• 1.8 properties owned by Foreign nationals• 600,000 are British• Many are holiday homes but many are for the

retired.

British and German dominate this market with 60% of these migrants being over 45 yrs old.Significant number of migrants are retireesThose between 30 – 40 often set up businessesSome move as property developers and still have business links with the UK, some even commute.

Prices have shrunk between the two:

• Rise of low cost airlines• Long term road building

programme in Spain• The internet

Issues

• Ageing in Spain can be difficult – lack of healthcare means increasing costs

• Many retirement homes are isolated• Natural beauty of coastal areas have been

reduced• Water supply issues due to urbanisation• Spaniards often feel immigrants fail to integrate• Inflated property prices

Impact of migration

• Spread the cards out in front of you and read through them.

• Sort the cards into 4 piles:

1. Costs for UK2. Benefits for UK3. Costs for Spain4. Benefits for Spain

• Complete the tables

Impacts on the UK

Costs Benefits

Impacts on Spain

Costs Benefits

Impacts on the UKCosts Benefits

Family breakup, as grandparents move away

Loss of potential childminders

Loss of a highly experienced workforce, especially if they retire early

The ‘grey pound’ is spent overseas

In part, emigration balances increased immigration, reducing net migration rates

Fewer older people to take care of; some health and care problems are effectively exported

Relieves pressure to build new homes, and therefore to build on greenfield sites

Impacts on SpainCosts Benefits

Immigrant ‘ghettos’ are created, with little

social and cultural integration

Resentment as immigrants seek to enter

local politics

House prices become too high for local

people

Healthcare costs are borne by the host

country

Physical infrastructure systems may be

strained

Increased spending in the local economy;

some retirees are highly affluent

Job creation in construction, retail and

other services

Areas that were largely unproductive

scrubland become valuable building sites

Living the Dream....?

The Reality...!

Health and Social Care in Spain

• Free healthcare for British pensioners living in Spain.• Entitled to same level of care as Spanish people.• Hospital care in Spain is very good.But....• Little aftercare on leaving hospital.• Limited social care – few residential homes.• Prescription charges recently introduced.Implications...• Older people returning to the UK following health

problems/crisis.

Consequences

• Young and skilled will often boost an economy• Old, families and asylum seekers often cost

the economy initially• UK treasury say that migrants contribute 10%

of taxes and 9% of Govt spending• Of the 700,000 Eastern Europeans who arrived

between 2004 -2007 only 5000 claimed any benefits (70,000 claimed child benefit)

• Anti –migration group ‘Migrationwatch’ argue that migration has little economic benefit

• Equal to 4p per person per week in economic growth• Ernst and Young 2006 estimated migration had

added £12-18 billion in tax revenues since 1998

Managing migration• Managing migration can be difficult.

• There may be a need for immigrants, but they also bring costs.

• It is very hard to prevent emigration.

• The UK is replacing the present system of more than 80 different types of work permits with a simpler, five-tier points system based on the Australian model

• It is hoped this will balance the need for skilled workers with the costs of providing additional services.

• Since 2002 the UK has taken a tougher line with asylum seekers in order to reduce public concerns.

UK’s 5 Tier system• Tier 1: Highly skilled This tier includes entrepreneurs, top scientists

and business people. No job offer will be required.

• Tier 2: Skilled with job offer People with qualifications/work-related experience; job offer in a ‘shortage area’ such as nursing.

• Tier 3: Low skilled Workers from the expanded European Union, who do not need prior permission to arrive.

• Tier 4: Students Those paying for tuition in the UK.

• Tier 5: Temporary workers, youth mobility

Managing Migration

• Poverty and racism can lead to racist tension and even open conflict

• Govt’s have to manage migration to avoid this from happening

• Meet international obligations on accepting asylum seekers

• Limit illegal immigrants• Match immigration to the needs of the economy and

minimize brain drain• Integrate host societies

Exam Question:

Using an example of a place you have studied, explain the benefits and problems that economic migrants can bring for both the host nation and source nation.[15]

Homework

• Revise for mock!• TNC’s, Global Networks, Global Groupings, Roots,

Migration• Ensure you understand all key case studies:• Coca-Cola• Switched on and switch off• Ageing population – UK • Polish Migration• Costa Del Sol• REVISION THURSDAY LUNCH