Diversity has become one of the most challenging issues in multi-cultural societies. This diversity, whether cultural, religious, linguistic, economic, ideological or historical, can accelerate and enrich progress in our society. At the same time, diversity without integration and common citizenship leads to polarization and undermines social and economic structures. We cannot shy away from a deliberate immigration and integration policy that recognizes the inevitable nature and realizes the opportunities of immigration.
The Itinera Institute offers interested readers a selection of recent and topical publications and presentations from external sources, with a relevant angle towards the Institute’s key issues for Belgium. The selection is updated regularly and readers have the opportunity to stay on track through RSS for each issue. The selection in no way reflects a policy preference on behalf of the institute and is done for information purposes only.
Suggestions for publications or presentations are welcome and can be sent to info@itinerainstitute.org
What can be learnt from the Dutch integration story?
17 November 2008
| In what social and economic areas is the gap between autochthones and immigrants closing? And in what areas nothing has changed? What factors are determining? This year report 2008 of the Dutch bureau for statistics is a source of inspiration about the actual situation of the social integration processes. And for a country like Belgium which is very close to the Netherlands according to the Migration Policy Index, this report can be an important source of inspiration on what to do, and what not to do. |
Benefits of circular migration
24 October 2008
| Circular migration is a continuing, long-term, and fluid pattern of international mobility of people among countries that occupy what is now recognized as a single economic space. According to this MPI Insight, both countries of origin and destination gain from this international mobility because it conforms to the natural preferences of many migrants and makes labour markets more flexible – an important instrument to cushion asymmetric shocks (economic shocks that hit countries differently) in Europe for example. Removing administrative obstacles to mobility and developing flexible long-term residence permits are only two of the many other policy recommendations advanced in this article. |
Off-shoring and immigration of skilled workers fosters competitiveness
06 October 2008
| According to this Bruegel policybrief, Europe’s corporations are changing the way they do business, in a context of increasing competition and scarcity of top-talent. They are slicing up the value chain and introducing flatter chains of command in order to cut costs and woo the highly skilled workers. Contrary to popular belief, both off-shoring to the near-abroad and immigration of skilled workers can foster European competitiveness and help keep jobs in Europe. This is also highly relevant for a small open economy like Belgium. |
Temporary agency work as a transition for a more efficient labour market? Reflection.
22 September 2008
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Following the lecture of Jan Denys, Randstad, of the 17th of September, Fons Leroy, VDAB, answers. |
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Migration policy: Belgium is lagging behind, but progresses
12 September 2008
| This OECD report provides a broad update of migration policies and contains notably a “scoreboard” of immigrant employment integration. Belgium appears in the very bottom league regarding the gap between foreign-born and the native-born: It is ranked last but one, just before Poland. The immigrant employment rate in our country appears among the lowest in the OECD area, while foreign-born unemployment rate appears among the highest. In 2006, only one immigrant in two was employed. The outcome improves when the education profile is taken into account (57%), but not enough to change Belgium’s position. Despite these bad performances, one can however note that Belgium has made considerable progress since 2001, especially in the case of immigrant women. |
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