Spanish and LATIN American Intra-European Mobilities and Circularity

The aim of this paper is to provide a quantitative estimate for Spanish and Latin American origin intra-European mobilities, taking as a reference mobilities in both directions between Spain and a number of countries, namely the UK, France, Germany and Switzerland. Our analysis will be based on the exploitation of Residential Variation Statistics (Spanish National Institute of Statistics-INE), as well as the new ‘Migration Statistics’ which have been provided by the INE since 2008.  The paper begins with a critical reflection on the methodological difficulties involved in measuring intra-European mobility using this statistical tool.  After determining the limitations of these data, we will attempt to provide a series of indicators that can highlight the various types of intra-European mobility.  Secondly, we will establish a comparison between mobilities of Spanish and Latin American origin migrants. The main objective is to  measure the degree of migratory circularity that is taking place between Spain and the European countries selected, assessing the impact of the economic crisis that has affected Spain from 2008 onwards (as a space of entry or permanence) on Latin American migratory movements in the European space.