Migration: UK to Spain

Migration: UK to Spain

1. Reasons for migration

   • Push factors from the UK
     • Rising cost of living - shopping, fuel, electricity, mortgages etc.
     • Unpleasant climate - cold, wet and changeable
   • Warm, constant climate. More suitable for retirees
   • Lower cost of living
   • Slower pace of life - less stress
   • Interesting new culture, foods, etc.
   • There is a well established British population in parts of Spain, particularly in the south
   • Air travel has become more affordable, making the UK and Spain more connected
   • Improved international communication, eg. cheaper phone services, and internet services such as Skype

2. Impacts on Spain

   • Greater dependency ratio
   • More pressure on services. This may result in Spain having to build and staff more GP's, hospitals and care homes
     • This could be seen as a positive, as it creates new employment, however, this also results in more land usage. Southern Spain is currently experiencing land shortages, as much of the region's land is too dry and unstable to build on
   • Many UK migrants in Spain are only part time residents (roughly 230,000 as of 2008)
     • This means an increase in air traffic. Also, it means that these resident are not contributing to the Spanish economy year round
   • UK migrants have established British communities in Spain, and many don't even speak Spanish. This creates cultural tensions between the local residents and the British residents
     • Britain is exporting its culture abroad

3. Impacts on the UK

   • Lower dependency ratio as most emigrants are of or near retirement age
   • Currently it is estimated that pensioners contribute around £39.6 billion per year to the UK economy (as of 2010). However, this contribution will decrease as more British retirees emigrate
   • There is less pressure on the NHS as it has no responsibility for British nationals who live abroad
   • There may be a social impact in the UK losing a large part of its older generation, and all of their experience, culture and views
   • UK migrants have the right to vote in Spain, and even stand as electoral candidates. More than 100 UK immigrants stood as electoral candidates in Spain in 2007. This has a political impact on native Spaniards, who may feel that their local MP can not properly represent them