A qualitative viewpoint on the Southern eurozone highly skilled labour mobility in the metropolitan area of Copenhagen in times of crisis and austerity

Abstract

The paper explores patterns of skilled labour mobility from the Southern eurozone to the metropolitan area of Copenhagen by means of a qualitative micro-study. The key hypothesis is that in/outflows may not only be a consequence of the present economic crisis but may also rely on the deep-rooted, democratic-socio-cultural aspects or dissimilar policy choices of sending/hosting countries. These same aspects are expected to influence return/circular migration. In contrast to mainstream theories of international migration, this viewpoint is supported by findings which illustrate how non-economic factors can be also crucial and why enhancing beneficial return/circular migration in the Southern eurozone can be incompatible with the application of austerity.