Can International Migration Restrain the Depopulation of the Far Eastern Federal District?

Abstract

When discussing the problems of development in the Far East related to population decline, most often the focus is on the need to reduce the outflow of the local population and to attract migrants from other regions of the country and from abroad. This article attempts to look at the problem from a different angle. The authors have focused on analyzing the indicators of international migration since for many years it has formally remained the only source of population replenishment in the region. On the basis of studying a considerable amount of data characterizing temporary and long-term forms of international migration, the conclusion is made that the true indicators of long-term international migration in the region are significantly lower than those shown by official statistics based on the registration of the population at the place of stay and place of residence. By introducing rarely used statistics on temporary residence permits and residence permits, migration registration, and documents entitling foreigners to work in Russia, the authors show that temporary forms of migration dominate in the Far Eastern Federal District. Official statistics do not reflect the true flow of migrants focused on moving to Russia permanently. The region has a specific migration situation in which international migrants are predominantly represented by persons temporarily staying in Russia for the purpose of work. This should not be seen as a negative phenomenon. On the contrary, it is advisable to change the paradigm of migration processes in the region – from attracting long-term migrants and keeping the permanent population from migrating to developing civilized forms of temporary migration and corresponding types of employment – rotational, expeditionary, etc.