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 self-organization. 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 inflow of remittances and measurable effects on the labor market that caused the reorganization of households and gender relations .