Brücke und/oder Sprungbrett: Sopron/Ödenburg, die Rolle der ungarischen Grenzstadt im Rahmen der Binnenmigration nach 1989

Abstract

It is the main aim of this study to analyse the role of a Hungarian medium-sized townlocated by the Austrian border, Sopron/Odenburg, in internal migration. The change of thepolitical system after 1989 has had its impact not only on the social and economic developmentof the town, but also on perception of the town’s geographical location. Locatedin the western periphery of the country, near to the Iron Curtain during the decades ofSocialism, Sopron/Odenburg found itself in a much more favourable position after 1989.This resulted in becoming one of the most attractive destinations of Hungarian internalmigration. Later, other factors (Hungary’s EU accession in 2004, the global economiccrisis in 2008, abandoning of all labour-market restrictions 2011) have also contributedto this. Quantitative analysis of migrants based on statistical data is supplemented by theresults of a survey conducted among newer and older residents of Sopron/Odenburg thatreveal information about their social background as well as temporal and spatial patternsof in-migration. The number of in-migrants grew especially after the global economiccrisis, and the primary reason for in-migration was to get work in Sopron/Odenburg orAustria. Survey results show, however, also relevant differences between earlier and laterin-migrants to Sopron/Odenburg. It seems that the town functions rather as a ‘bridge’,although its function of a ‘springboard’ is also important.