4 ms·

Didn’t the EU have strict capital requirements for countries joining it? I am from Ireland originally and I seem to recall this being a topic of discussion when

Didn’t the EU have strict capital requirements for countries joining it? I am from Ireland originally and I seem to recall this being a topic of discussion when I was younger. I would imagine that countries within the EU don’t have the same Standards of living/earnings gap between them as say a developing country & a western one. Hence, their is not the same incentive to mass migrate. The color coded map on this article is a good example of this: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)_per_capita https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PP...

arcticbull 8y ago
The GDP Per Capita of Poland is $12K USD, and Germany is $42K. This is comparable to the difference between the US territories of the Northern Mariannas and American Samoa ($13K) and California ($58K). Somehow rote economic prosperity is not sufficient to make everyone up and move or there wouldn't be an American Samoa. [NOTE: I didn't adjust for PPP so the discrepancy is not as high as I implied it to be although it is still high; I couldn't find sufficient data in time].
- htormey 8y ago
  I’d also make the argument that restricting migration out of a country can be of benefit to that countries economy. This was the case with South Korea after its civil war: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_South_Korea https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_South_Korea “Following the Korean War, South Korea remained one of the poorest countries in the world for over a decade. In 1960 its gross domestic product per capita was $79,[57] lower than that of some sub-Saharan countries.[58] The growth of the industrial sector was the principal stimulus to economic development. In 1986, manufacturing industries accounted for approximately 30 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) and 25 percent of the work force. Benefiting from strong domestic encouragement and foreign aid, Seoul's industrialists introduced modern technologies into outmoded or newly built facilities at a rapid pace, increased the production of commodities—especially those for sale in foreign markets—and plowed the proceeds back into further industrial expansion. As a result, industry altered the country's landscape, drawing millions of laborers to urban manufacturing centers.” A good book that talks about this economic transformation and how it was achieved is bad Samaritan’s: https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Samaritans-Secret-History-Capitalism/dp/1596915986/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1530487001&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=bad+samaritans+the+myth+of+free+trade&dpPl=1&dpID=51g9ik3UeLL&ref=plSrch https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Samaritans-Secret-History-Capital... The books author is a Korean economist who grew up during this period. One point that he makes which is very interesting is that South Korea had very strict laws preventing its academics from migrating to other countries. Those that did travel abroad to study were forced to return and participate in the economic development of the country. He attributes this as part of the reason for South Korea’s turn around. China is another economic success story that restricts its citizens movements. Not saying that I agree with either of these policies. Just bringing them up as eastern counterpoints to the notion that unlimited free trade and free movement are the optimal states for economic development.
- coldtea 8y ago
  >Somehow rote economic prosperity is not sufficient to make everyone up and move or there wouldn't be an American Samoa. Probably those Samoans don't assume that they would be welcomed and be making $58K in California. More likely they'd join the millions of piss poor latinos, just without their families and old communities. And still, with a Samoa population of 200K, there are 100K Samoan immigrants in the US and 150K in New Zealand. Most of the Samoan population (400K) live outside the country.

arcticbull 8y ago

The GDP Per Capita of Poland is $12K USD, and Germany is $42K. This is comparable to the difference between the US territories of the Northern Mariannas and American Samoa ($13K) and California ($58K). Somehow rote economic prosperity is not sufficient to make everyone up and move or there wouldn't be an American Samoa. [NOTE: I didn't adjust for PPP so the discrepancy is not as high as I implied it to be although it is still high; I couldn't find sufficient data in time].

htormey 8y ago
I’d also make the argument that restricting migration out of a country can be of benefit to that countries economy. This was the case with South Korea after its civil war: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_South_Korea https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_South_Korea “Following the Korean War, South Korea remained one of the poorest countries in the world for over a decade. In 1960 its gross domestic product per capita was $79,[57] lower than that of some sub-Saharan countries.[58] The growth of the industrial sector was the principal stimulus to economic development. In 1986, manufacturing industries accounted for approximately 30 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) and 25 percent of the work force. Benefiting from strong domestic encouragement and foreign aid, Seoul's industrialists introduced modern technologies into outmoded or newly built facilities at a rapid pace, increased the production of commodities—especially those for sale in foreign markets—and plowed the proceeds back into further industrial expansion. As a result, industry altered the country's landscape, drawing millions of laborers to urban manufacturing centers.” A good book that talks about this economic transformation and how it was achieved is bad Samaritan’s: https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Samaritans-Secret-History-Capitalism/dp/1596915986/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1530487001&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=bad+samaritans+the+myth+of+free+trade&dpPl=1&dpID=51g9ik3UeLL&ref=plSrch https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Samaritans-Secret-History-Capital... The books author is a Korean economist who grew up during this period. One point that he makes which is very interesting is that South Korea had very strict laws preventing its academics from migrating to other countries. Those that did travel abroad to study were forced to return and participate in the economic development of the country. He attributes this as part of the reason for South Korea’s turn around. China is another economic success story that restricts its citizens movements. Not saying that I agree with either of these policies. Just bringing them up as eastern counterpoints to the notion that unlimited free trade and free movement are the optimal states for economic development.
coldtea 8y ago
>Somehow rote economic prosperity is not sufficient to make everyone up and move or there wouldn't be an American Samoa. Probably those Samoans don't assume that they would be welcomed and be making $58K in California. More likely they'd join the millions of piss poor latinos, just without their families and old communities. And still, with a Samoa population of 200K, there are 100K Samoan immigrants in the US and 150K in New Zealand. Most of the Samoan population (400K) live outside the country.