Demographic Challenges in Southern Europe

Southern Europe faces an increasingly challenging demographic outlook, as decades of low fertility, anti-immigration sentiment and higher skilled emigration depress economic growth and dynamism. While population ageing cannot be reversed, changes to public policies and social norms can assist in slowing down the speed of the process. They can allow government finances, economic growth and social fairness and opportunities to remain sustainable. This presentation will discuss the key drivers of possible ameliorating reforms to Southern Europe’s demographic challenges.

The Spanish case defies established wisdom regarding the impact of economic disruption on migratory patterns, migration policies, and natives’ attitudes. The crisis initiated in 2008 drove unemployment to unprecedented levels, yet it did not cause a massive exodus of Spain’s foreign-born population; many immigrants’ administrative status even improved substantively during the crisis; and public opinion remained hospitable by comparative standards. Thus, in an international context marked by increasingly poisonous anti-immigrant discourse and policies, Spain stands out as an exception. However, recent events threaten the sustainability of the country’s remarkably migration-friendly policies and public attitudes.

Speakers: Jacob Kirkegaard. Senior Fellow, Peterson Institute for International Economics; Sebastian Rinken. Tenured Researcher, institute for Advanced Social Studies, Spanish Research Council (CSIC). 

Chair: Sebastian Royo. Acting Provost, Suffolk University; Professor of Government, Suffolk University; Co-Chair, Southern Europe in the EU, Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University; Local Affiliate, Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University.

Sponsors: RCC; Souther Europe in the EU Study Group, Minda de Gunzburg Center for European Studies, Harvard University.