Emigracijos veiksniai ir jų vertinimo analizė

Abstract

Are Lithuanians leaving Lithuania? Facing the mass emigration phenomenon, such questions are more and more often asked not only by journalists who attempt at drawing the attention of the society to this issue, but also by politicians and public characters. There are many ways of thinking about this issue. Those who have gained well being in foreign countries, enjoy the benefits of migration. However, others worry about the negative impact on the demographical and social situation, as well as the negative influence on labor market of the country in the future. Alongside with many sob stories and declared determination to get remedies immediately, is possible to hear another opinion, stating that it is a civil liberty - freedom to travel to obtain a wealth of opportunities. Nowadays migration movement is becoming a global issue. Experts are voicing their concerns about the threats of emigration. Therefore, it is interesting whether the government of Lithuania has any cure for mass emigration. The main objective of this paper is to analyze the processes of emigration in Lithuania. In conclusion, the object of the paper is the emigration movement in Lithuania. The main thesis of this paper is to prove that the society is not aware of government’s remedies, which are rather ineffective at curbing the increasing emigration scale. In order to reach objectives set in the paper, a questionnaire was prepared and distributed to the residents of Joniškis Region Municipalities. So the findings of the paper: The definition of “migration” includes any movement of persons within the boundaries of one country or crossing its boarders, leaving for a short or long period, voluntary or involuntary, searching for another job or environment friendly for the unemployed, legal or illegal, migration with the aim to change political, social, economic, cultural or another environment. Hence migration is classified according to the movement’s reasons, time, place, legal status, etc. According to the participants of the survey, the main reasons for emigration are economic and social. As the main source of living to the human being is his work and salary, emigration is chosen as the means to ensure higher level of living standards. In addition to that, it turned out that geographical, cultural or personal reasons are not so crucial to the emigrating decisions. It is not possible to get exact figures of migrants due to free migration policy in the EU, avoidance of official migration and lack of detailed data. In the years 2001-2005, 126 thousand people emigrated from Lithuania, including those 70 thousand who emigrated unofficially. Within the period from 1990 until 2006, about 404 thousand persons emigrated from Lithuania (officially and unofficially). Even 73,8 of people claim that the state fails to undertake any measures in order to stop emigration. Persons with university education are most deeply disappointed. It is claimed that government of Lithuania is totally passive in this respect and although the strategy regarding emigration formally exists it is not applied in reality. Respondents claim that this problem is recently abandoned and is brought into the light only when the elections approach. Their advice is to allow proper living conditions in Lithuania. In their opinion, first of all there must be some changes made in social, financial and tax policy. Reduction of taxes, creation of new working places and rise of salaries, pensions and other social benefits are mentioned as very beneficial for slowing down emigration volumes. The analysis of the statistical information and qualitative survey performed allows grasping the importance of migration processes in nowadays world. Similar surveys are performed more and more frequently, both in Lithuania and worldwide, since the importance of problem rises rapidly. Lithuanian politics pay too little attention to migration phenomena, also the opinions of the citizens from smaller regions are not investigated yet. This fresh information allows to experience what do people think about emigration processes, what reasons for emigration are most importation, what do they think about modern challenges.