Immigration: a structural phenomenon

The first opinion piece of Teresa Garcia-Milà's term as head of the Círculo de Economía (Circle of Economy) focuses on immigration, a phenomenon that all political parties, regardless of their political leanings, use more as an electoral tool and a means of conflict than as a means of finding solutions. A calm and in-depth debate is necessary to address this issue, as it is a structural one. In recent years, both Catalonia and Spain have experienced a surge in newcomers, which, while not the sole factor, has contributed to rising housing prices, as supply has failed to meet the accelerated demand, also putting pressure on public services. In a short time, compared to other countries, our numbers have grown significantly. Therefore, this prestigious forum, whose members represent a broad range of ideologies, has chosen to dedicate its opinion piece—the document through which it establishes its position on major issues—to a subject that is often treated demagogically by politicians. There are no magic formulas or easy solutions to a complex issue with many facets, from economic and labor issues to social ones, which has fallen too heavily into the hands of populist rhetoric.

The director general of the Circle, Miquel Nadal, states that it is up to the country to manage immigration, which is always considered necessary to guarantee the viability of the welfare state, given the declining fertility rates and the accelerated aging of the native population, and to align it with a change in the economic model. "Needs and capacity" must be aligned, he concludes. Essentially, it's about ensuring that newcomers are attracted to a country that prioritizes high productivity and not a labor-intensive, low-wage system that has led to stagnant per capita income. For this reason, the Circle also calls for greater control of illegal hiring practices, that is, those of employers who take advantage of the needs of the most vulnerable.

The truth is that we are growing, but without many people fully realizing it. To steer the economy in the desired direction, measures are needed to review mechanisms such as residency and family reunification, which began as exceptions but have become the norm and the most common way to obtain residency and employment, according to the Circle. Why? What has been the result so far? A pool of irregular immigration that fuels a very precarious labor market and social rights system.

The document, which calls for moving away from populism and naive idealism, demands the development of a comprehensive immigration policy for the first time, instead of reacting to and applying piecemeal solutions. In fact, the regularization of some 500,000 people, about 150,000 of them in Catalonia, is the best example of this. And, according to the Circle, although it is necessary for thousands of people to enter the formal economy and citizenship system, it is merely "acknowledgment of a failure" that should not be allowed to continue. And in addition to guaranteeing their rights, those who legitimately come seeking prosperity must also assume the same duties as the rest of society, from language to democratic values, as the Circle states, but without imposition, rather by fostering a sense of pride in belonging.