ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND MIGRATION AFTER EU ACCESSION: THE CASE OF BALTIC STATES

Abstract

The Eastern enlargement of the European Union had an unprecedented influence on the migration flows serving as a driving force for east to west migration. The current paper aims to identify the extent and determinants of migration in the Baltic States following the European Union accession in 2004 due to liberalisation of the movement of population to the west. The research was based on analysing the statistical data on several push and pull factors, including economic, social and demographic determinants. The results show that the main determinants of emigration in the Baltic region are the unfavourable macroeconomic conditions, including low income, low GDP per capita, and high unemployment rate. Such migration determinants lead to "brain drain" in the region. The Baltic States developed and implemented various migration policies to prevent further emigration and encourage return migration since EU accession.