THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE REFUGEES ON EUROPE. COSTLY ON THE SHORT TERM, BENEFICIAL ON THE LONG RUN?
THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF THE REFUGEES ON EUROPE. COSTLY ON THE SHORT TERM, BENEFICIAL ON THE LONG RUN?

Summary/Abstract: We witness an unprecedented Age of Migration, with massive inflows of refugees in search for survival, escaping conflict and persecution in their home communities. In the last two years, migration as a whole, and asylum and border management in particular, were put under severe pressure, with a relevant input given by media coverage in Europe, often portraying refugees as main source of instability in EU - “marginalization makes them easy targets for scapegoating by far right parties, which have gained increasing support throughout Europe by exploiting fears and inciting resentment” (Rudiger and Spencer, 2003: 12). Member States seemed unable to respond effectively to such crisis. The latest influx of newcomers reopened the debates on border controls and humanitarian aid, but also on the social and economic challenges that need to be addressed. The article investigates the socio-economic impact of the refugees in EU, with a focus on the costs and benefits, starting from the assumption that the short and medium term costs will be shadowed by the long term benefits.

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