7.2 a) Brazil EDC Case Study Flashcards
What is the importance of migration to Brazil (EDC)?
Brazil is the seventh largest economy in the world and the leading economic power in Latin America. As an emerging economy it has a GDP per capita of $7,502- 2021. The sectoral contribution to GDP is: services 69 per cent. industry 25 per cent and agriculture 6 per cent.
Brazil is moving rapidly through the demographic transition with declining crude birth rate and ageing population. It has a population of 215 million people- 5th largest country in world. It has a demographic dividend with an ageing population that has a higher dependency on elderly ratio.
Migration has contributed to the economic growth and development of Brazil over a long period
What are Brazils current migration patterns?
- A net migration loss of190,000 between 2010 and 2014 out World Bank)
- Increased migration between Brazil and its neighbouring countries, especially Mercosur member but also Chile and the Andean states
- A slowing down of emigration of lower skilled economic migrants to the USA
- Increased emigration of highly skilled workers to Europe, USA and Japan
- An influx of migrants from Haiti and increasingly from African countries using Ecuador and Chile as transit countries
- A rise in the number of international labour migrants attracted by the construction industry for the 2014 football World Cup and the 2016 Olympics
- Strong and continuing internal migration especially from the northeast to the cities of the southeast Stretch and challenge
What is intra-regional migration in Brazil?
mainly with MERCOSOUR members. Immigration from Bolivia and Peru- Hallmark events (World championships and olympics).
Emigration to Chile.
What is inter-regional migration like in Brazil?
Immigration from Central America (Haiti), Europe (portugal), East Asia (japan and south korea).
Emigration to USA and Japan. Bilateral migration corridors formed between Brazil; portugal, paraguay and Japan.
How have migration patterns changed over time in Brazil?
During the late nineteenth and twentieth century, Brazil was a net recipient of migrants. There were periods in which Europeans were attracted to work in the agricultural sector, especially coffee cultivation-particularly Italians, Germans and Portuguese.
Also Japanese migrants have long been drawn towards agricultural and industrial sectors. Brazil hosts the largest japanes community living outside Japan. In the past 25 years 250,000 Brazilian-Japanese have been returning home to japan to work. And many Brazilians of Japanese descent, having strong cultural links, have emigrated to Japan, encouraged by the employment opportunities.
Immigration into Brazil has slowed in the last fifteen years. There are 80,000 fewer immigrants living in Brazil than at the start of the century. And during the same period emigration has increased; in 2013, 1.77 million Brazilians lived abroad compared with 0.98 million in 2000.
The USA has Brazil’s largest population overseas mainly for economic reasons. Brazilians take advantage of the two year work visa- Yo-Yo effect
How does the corridor between Brazil and Portugal illustrate interdependence?
Brazil was a former colony of Portugal and today the Portuguese government still gives special status to Brazilian migrants.
For economic migrants, Portugal has become a gateway for entry to the EU. The shared language, ancestry and family ties contribute to the ease with which migrants in both countries can be integrated.
1990-2010: the main movement was eastwards Brazil to Portugal
Reciprocal migration is supported by the well-developed social diaspora networks in both countries. Meanwhile migrant remittances are an important economic factor for many families.
2000- status of equality treaty- allowed citizens from both countries to travel without visas.
- Triggered new commercial/trade deals.
- Brazilian investment in Portugal.
Migrant Remittances:
- Brazilians in Portugal send home more than $200 million and return with new skills and an awareness of Europe.
- Portuguese in Brazil send home 20 million.
How does the corridor between Brazil and USA illustrate interdependence?
The many thousands of low-skilled economic migrants working in the USA are able to remit significant monies, while returning migrants, having acquired skills and knowledge, are able to contribute to Brazilian development. Many brazilians live in Florida and California. Remittances send back $593 million per year.
Highly skilled Brazilians are increasingly finding opportunities to work in the USA especially in the service sector. There are strong links in education and teacher training.
Bilateral links have been formed through trade:
- USA is Brazils 2nd largest export country- valued at $30 billion per year.
- Brazil is the USA’s 14th largest trading partner- $50 billion.
Both are members of the G20 group.
The USA has negotiated agreements with Brazil regarding agriculture, trade, finance, education and defence. In addition USAID gives support to Brazil in many environmental projects. 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
How does the corridor between Brazil and Haiti illustrate interdependence?
The National Immigration Council for Brazil enables Haitian immigrants to obtain visas relatively easily in Haiti, and thereby reduce their vulnerability to trafficking networks. This is of great benefit to Haitians who have found it difficult to recover from the devastating earthquake of 2010, which displaced 1.5 million, and the effects of Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Is a recent migration pattern in the form of refugees.
Brazil’s national immigration Council allowed entry on humanitarian grounds- entry visa requirements were relaxed. By 2013 75,000 haitians live in Brazil and this continues to rise as Haitians attempt to escape the political instability, unemployment, poverty, poor access to education and the country’s appalling human rights record, especially gender-based violence.
Many of the migrants are male and poorly educated. Employers benefit in Rio area:
- agricultural
- Construction
Many intend to join friends and relatives in the southeast of Brazil where low-skilled jobs are available in agriculture and the factories of Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina
Many frustrated brazilians saw the haitians as scapegoats to the issues surrounding the economic crisis in 2009 to present day.
- Racial tensions and prejudice grew, creating ghettos in urban areas. To combat this some local authorities are creating programs for integration- teaching portuguese.
How do the migration links between Japan and Brazil illustrate interdependence?
Many Brazil corporations have adopted japanese business customs and models as a growing economy.
Trade remains between the two nations:
- FDI from japan to brazil was $2,203 in 2018.
This has allowed brazil to be part of BRIC.
1997- Economic Crisis in Asia impacted Brazil
- Exports decreased to Japan
- Inflation in Brazil increased by 15-20%.
Japan has also invested in humanitarian projects in Brazil:
- Basic human needs programme ensures citizens access to lifes essentials.
How has migration impacted brazils economic development?
- Recent arrivals of highly skilled professionals with employment contracts have contributed to entrepreneurship, innovation and reducing gaps in the labour market.
- Allowed the economy to diversify away from the primary sector and develop into three areas:
- industry
- financial services and tourism
- research and development
- Increased quantity and quality of immigrants at intra and inter-national levels
- Emigration to the USA, Japan, Portugal and other European countries has resulted in migrant remittances to Brazil, used by families in housing improve education and general consumption, which has contributed to development at all scales (US$2.4 billion, 2014-0.1 per cent of GDP)
How has migration impacted Brazils political stability?
- Brazil has a stable and democratic political system; is also a leading member of Mercosur, an important member of G20 and OECD, and is one of the so-called BRICS group of emerging economies
- Membership of Mercosur, primarily a trading bloc which there is free flow of trade, capital and labour migration, has helped South American integration and promotion of political stability
- There are stable political relationships between Brazil and the countries with which it has significant bilateral migrant flows, especially USA Japan and Portugal
- Brazil is an important receiver of environmental and political refugees and as a stable government accepts responsibility for their welfare and employment prospects by providing visas and work permits.
BUT- recently has been changing with Bolsonaro and deforestation.
How has migration impacted brazils social equality?
- According to UNESCO, there are inequalities in Brazilian society between different ethnic groups Inequalities exist in housing provision, access to services, educational attainment and income Brazilians of African descent are most affected.
- Inequalities have a spatial perspective with poverty concentrated in rural areas or in the favelas to which the poor migrate.
- There is prejudice and discrimination in the labour market, especially against black and indigenous populations, and this impedes their full economic political and social development
- Brazils population is the most diverse of the world- 51% describe themselves as mixed race or black.
- White brazilians earn 50% more than black people
- Homicide rates:
- white brazilians- decreased by 25%
- Black brazilians- up by 40%
What markets is Brazil in?
- MERCOSOUR countries- “southern common market”. Promotes free trade among member states: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela.
