Emigro, ergo sum
The Emigration of Poles and Its Consequences
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
Since Poland acceded to the EU and several EU member-states, first and foremost Great Britain and Ireland, opened their labour markets to Polish workers, more and more Poles are migrating abroad. Among the labour migrants are low-qualified workers who do jobs in agriculture, gastronomy and construction, which are poorly paid but better remunerated than in Poland. Much more serious for Poland’s economy is the loss of highly qualified specialists. To counteract this brain drain, Poland needs an effective state-sponsored migration policy flanked by reform of the economy, labour market and the education and health-case systems.
(Osteuropa 11-12/2006, pp. 167–178)