Migration and Its Consequences for Romania

Abstract

Romania has experienced significant migration since 1990, and this migration has had diversified effects on Romanian society . This article analyzes Romanian migration in the period after 1990, highlighting some of the most noticeable effects produced by international migration during this time . Romanian migration is characterized by a high degree of selforganization . It has had changing causes and patterns of organization in each of the distinct periods after 1990 . The first period, from 1990 to 1993, was characterized by migration to Germany with additional migration of Romanians to a host of other European countries . This first period was followed by a relatively stable period . After 1997, however, we argue that massive restructuring of the Romanian economy forced unemployed Romanians to migrate irregularly . After 2002, the pattern of Romanian migration altered yet again, because citizens of Romania were allowed to travel to EU countries without restrictions . Consequently, migration levels increased massively . After 2007, Romanians benefited from EU accession . There were diverse consequences of this movement of migrants . These included a significant in-flow of remittances and measurable effects on the labor market that caused the reorganization of households and gender relations .