Who, where and why: analysing specific characteristics for major ethnic groups of immigrants in Southern Europe

Antonios Rovolis, Harokopio University of Athens
Alexandra Tragaki, Harokopio University of Athens

Two decades since the first waves of massive immigration, Southern Europe remains an interesting region for analysis. Common country specific characteristics have served as explanatory factors and offered the framework for the development of the so-called “Southern European model of migration” (King, 2000). Moreover significant differences in personal, social and economic characteristics have been detected (Rovolis & Tragaki, 2008). This paper intends to provide a complementary analysis to our previous study (presented in EPC 2008 and IUSSP 2009). It presents a breakdown in different groups of immigrants in Southern Europe (namely Greece, Italy and Spain) highlighting their economic, demographic and settlement distinctive features. Additionally it offers a more detailed geographic method of analysis that goes down to NUTS III level. This approach aims to offer a clearer picture of migrants’ ethnic and spatial distribution across the examined region. In the following parts of this paper, we present the main characteristics of foreigners in respect to five great areas of origin (Europe, Asia, America, Africa and Oceania). The discussion is then narrowed down to the ten major countries of origin that currently form the immigrant population in Greece, Italy and Spain trying to identify to which extend the country of origin determines labour and economic characteristics and dictates their spatial distribution. Our analysis is based on regional data at NUTS III level. The presentation of immigrant population and its spatial distribution is approached with a cluster analysis that aims to identify migrant groups with similar settlement patterns. It is accompanied by the use of spatial statistics (maps, Moran’s I indicator, Local Indicator of Spatial Association) along with regression analysis so as to identify the explanatory factors of the observed trends. Analysis will be completed with tests so as to detect spatial autocorrelation or spatial heterogeneity problems