Brazil - EDC migration

• Brazil

  • 9th largest economy in the world and largest in S America
  • GDP per capita increased from $4874 in 2007 to $6797 in 2020
• Current patterns of migration

  • 2000 to 2009 net migration loss, which slowed between 2010 and 2014; 2015 to 2019 showed a slight net gain
  • increased migration between Brazil and its neighbouring countries
  • increase in emigration of highly skilled workers to the USA, Europe and Japan
  • influx from Haiti and parts of Africa
  • continuing internal migration (NE to SE)
• changes in migration over time

  • forced migration of slaves from Africa in 16th to 19th centuries
  • late 19th-20th centuries - immigrants from Europe, mainly Portuguese, Italians, Germans
  • emigration increased over last 25 years; mainly economic and to the USA, Japan and Europe
• interdependence (PORTUGAL)

  • brazil is a former colony, so special status to Brazilian migrants
  • shared language and family ties make integration easier in both countries
  • well-developed diaspora networks in both countries
  • for economic migrants, Portugal has become a gateway for entry to the EU
  • remittances is an important economic factor
• interdependence (USA)

  • low-skilled migrants in USA fill gaps in labour market and send remittances back
  • more highly skilled Brazilians in US service sectors (strong links in education and teacher training)
  • USA-Brazil trade, finance, defence agreements , and agriculture
  • USAid has supported Brazil with environmental projects in the past (these range from practical help such as training Xavante indigenous people to protect their tribal lands from forest fire, to assisting the Brazilian government in designing and implementing laws concerning forest governance and sustainable forest management)
• interdependence (HAITI)

  • political, economic and humanitarian relationship
  • easier to obtain visas so Haitian immigrants can escape difficulties, e.g. poverty, political instability, disasters
  • most find work in agriculture and manufacturing, which boosts the Brazilian economy
  • the number of immigrants grew from 1681 in 2010 to 11,072 in 2013
  • this continues to rise as Haitians attempt to escape the political instability, unemployment, poverty, poor access to education and the country's appalling HR record, especially gender-based violence
  • this is because of earthquake 2010 and Hurricane Sandy 2012
• impact on economic development

  • over time, migrants have led to growth of agricultural and manufacturing sectors
  • remittances are important for families, who spend them on education, house improvements and general goods and services
  • this has contributed to development at all scales ($2.4bil, 2014 - 0.1% of GDP)
  • recent arrivals of highly skilled professionals with employment contracts have contributed to entrepreneurship, innovation and reducing gaps in the labour market
• impact on political stability

  • leading member of Mercosur, primarily a trading bloc in which there is free flow of trade, capital and labour migration, has helped S American integration
  • member of G20 and Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development
  • stable political relationships with countries with significant bilateral migrant flows (especially USA, Japan and Portugal)
  • has received political and environmental refugees and allowed them to work and as a stable government, accepts responsibility for their welfare and employment prospects by providing visas and work permits.
• impact on social equality

  • according to UNESCO, inequality between different minority ethnic groups in all aspects of life. Brazilians descended from Africa enslaved people most affected
  • prejudice and discrimination in the labour market, especially against black and indigenous populations, and this impedes their full economic, political and social development