Exploratory Study of the Impacts of the Spanish Economic Immigration on the Migration Policies in the context of the 2008 global financial crisis

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Acknowledgement

I would take this opportunity to thank my research supervisor, family and friends for their support and guidance without which this research would not have been possible.

DECLARATION

I, [type your full first names and surname here], declare that the contents of this dissertation/thesis represent my own unaided work, and that the dissertation/thesis has not previously been submitted for academic examination towards any qualification. Furthermore, it represents my own opinions and not necessarily those of the University.

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Abstract

Spain is one of the European countries where immigration flows during the last decade have increased noticeably. The Spanish labor market institutions and the Spanish immigration policy exhibit some peculiarities which may be relevant when analyzing the impact of immigration. This paper provides a first approximation to the labor market effects of immigrants in Spain during the second half of the 1990s, the period in which immigration flows to Spain have accelerated. This exploratory research is done since there are few sources of information to back up my study due to the fact that the changes in migration policies are recent in Spain. There are a vast number of studies regarding the migration law within the EU and in each member state but not a lot of studies or reports analysing the outcomes of the shift in migration policies and strategies adopted by Spain since the beginning of the 2008 global financial crises. In this sense, it is also a predictive research that attempts to come up with the possible outcomes of the change of migration policies in the long run.

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTII

DECLARATIONIII

ABSTRACTIV

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Research Questions & Objectives6

Methodology7

Structure of the Dissertation8

CHAPTER 2: SPANISH MIGRATION THROUHOUT HISTORY10

CHAPTER 3: IMPACT OF MIGRATION IN ECONOMY22

Economic Migration and Financial Crisis22

Impacts Of Migration On The Labour Market And Employment Rates24

CHAPTER 4: SPAIN'S STRATEGY OF MANAGING MIGRATION28

Overview of the Spanish legislation on migration28

Critical evaluation of change of strategy its impact on foreign policy and economy31

CHAPTER 5: CURRENT SITUATION. EVALUATION AND ANALYSIS35

CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION38

REFERENCES40

Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION

Spain has been a country of emigrants throughout history. However, since the end of 1990s immigration has increased to the extent that it has had a big impact on its Spanish national policies, namely regarding economy. For instance, between 2000 and 2007 Spanish economy showed an impressive boom period with an average of 3,5% GDP growth. The growth was based mainlyon the service and construction sector; however, the agriculture

This exploratory research is done since there are few sources of information to back up my study due to the fact that the changes in migration policies are recent in Spain. There are a vast number of studies regarding the migration law within the EU and in each member state but not a lot of studies or reports analysing the outcomes of the shift in migration policies and strategies adopted by Spain since the beginning of the 2008 global financial ...