(Ine)quality of life: Lithuanian labor migration to Sweden during the economic crisis and its aftermath, 2008–2013

Abstract

This article connects micro and macro scales of inequality to Lithuanians' decisions to depart to Sweden during the economic crisis with austerity measures and its aftermath (2008-2013). This period revealed unequal opportunities regarding the quality of life that were largely created by the gradual re-commodification of labor as well as unaddressed income and social inequalities which had existed since the 1990s. Nevertheless, macro inequalities did not directly lead to the exit decision. Rather, this was bound to the individual's perception of the leaving opportunity and (possible) quality of life for oneself and one's family across time and space.

The evolution of social policy research in Central and Eastern Europe

“…Changing migration processes are also likely to affect research in the CEE region. Since the 1990s, the CEE countries have experienced massive outward labour migration (especially Lithuania, see on this point Genelyte, 2019). In recent years, these countries began attracting migrants from neighbouring countries and experiencing inflows of refugees.…”

The Reasons of Emigration of Russians from Lithuania: Research Overview, Analysis of Press and Interview Data

“…Be to, rusai išsiskiria santykinai aukštu išsilavinimo lygiu (Petrušauskaitė, Pilinkaitė Sotirovič, 2012, p. 29). Iš specifinių veiksnių dažniausiai įvardijami lietuvių kalbos žinių lygis, diskriminacija arba neigiamas darbdavių požiūris dėl tautybės, Lietuvos pilietybės ne(turėjimas), taip pat turimi socialiniai ryšiai ir teritorinio mobilumo įgūdžiai (Okunevičiūtė-Neverauskienė et al, 2007;Okunevičiūtė-Neverauskienė, 2010;Šliavaitė, 2012).…”

“…Kita vertus, sociologiniai tyrimai (Матулионис et al, 2013;Frėjutė-Rakauskienė, Šliavaitė, 2012;Frėjutė-Rakauskienė, 2011) atskleidė, kad globalizacijos ir Lietuvos europeizacijos kontekstuose, kalbant apie europinį identitetą, jaunesniosios kartos atstovai rusai labiau tapatinasi su Europos regionu, Europa, o vidurinės ir vyriausiosios kartos informantų tapatinimasis su Europos regionu ir Europa sunkiau apibendrinamas (Frėjutė-Rakauskienė, 2011, p. 105). Be to, 2013 m. sociologų Labanauskas, 2014) atlikto kokybinio tyrimo Klaipėdoje ir Visagine duomenys parodė, kad globalizacijos ir europeizacijos sąlygomis tautinis tapatumas jauniems rusams atrodo nelabai svarbi kategorija, nes ekonominę, socialinę ir kultūrinę savirealizaciją jie sieja su ta šalimi, kuri suteikia ar teiktų geresnes pragyvenimo sąlygas (rečiau Rusija, dažniau Lietuva ir ES) (Taljūnaitė, 2014, p. 121-122;Labanauskas, 2014, p. 139).…”

Why Do Hungarian Health Workers Migrate? A Micro-Level Analysis

“…In Slovakia, Williams and Balaž [38] scrutinized the migration intentions of doctors and found that, in addition to better salaries, the opportunity for professional development was the main motivating factor. Similarly, Genelyte [39] conducted a survey among Lithuanian health workers who had migrated to Sweden, and the following motivating factors proved to be the most important: low level of wages and social respect, poor working conditions, and structural problems of healthcare in their home country (e.g., uncertainty due to constant reforms).…”