Nation branding through immigrant integration

There are often varying opinions when it comes to the positive or negative impact of immigrants on a nation’s economy. Last year, a big debate arose in the U.S. concerning the impact of illegal immigrants on the hurting economy. A Newsweek article mentioned a New York Times/CBS News poll indicating that 74 percent of respondents said illegal immigrants weakened the economy, compared to only 17 percent who said they strengthened it. However, the article mentions the opposite views from economists stating that immigrants, both legal and illegal, provide cheap labour, lower prices on a number of items from produce to new homes, replenish aging workers, and help pay for retiree benefits.

Many times, immigrants take over jobs that the rest of the citizens simply do not want to do. Justyna Polanska, a Polish cleaning lady in Germany, released a book entitled ‘Under German Beds; A Cleaning Lady Reveals All,’ which exposes her employers as tight-fisted, filthy homeowners who set traps to check work is completed. These observations openly refute German stereotypes of organisation and seriousness. A Daily Mail article mentions the following facts about Polish cleaners in Germany who are cleaning for a better life:

• A third of the 1.5 million Poles living in Germany work as cleaning women
• Thousands of Polish women flooded across the border after the fall of the Berlin wall
• The majority of Polish cleaning ladies are employed on the black market, despite strict labour laws
• Most Germans with ‘Polnische Putze’ – Polish cleaners – fail to declare their charlady to avoid paying extra taxes

Within the past year, France has also been in the spotlight concerning immigration issues and national identity, notably with the expulsion of hundreds of Roma and the burqa ban. Now, with the 2012 elections coming up, the far-right Front National candidate, Marine Le Pen, with tough immigrations views has proved through polls that she is a force to be reckoned with.

With the objective to improve immigration and integration policies around the world, the Migrant Integration Policy Index (MIPEX) is a comprehensive tool, which can be used to assess, compare and improve integration policy. The MIPEX includes 31 countries in order to provide a view of integration policies across a broad range of differing environments. The top 10 ranking for 2010 is as follows:

1. Sweden
2. Portugal
3. Canada
4. Finland
5. Netherlands
6. Belgium
7. Norway
8. Spain
9. USA
10. Italy

Nations that are looking to improve their image abroad and welcome immigrants not only need to enforce policies that are favourable to immigration, but also the locals need to be open to it. Australia has been putting in efforts to woo back Indian students, who now see the nation as hostile. An Indian Express article reveals a drop of 35 percent in the arrival of Indian students in Australian universities following racial attacks. This is a huge loss for Australia per the 2009-2010 statistics, of the 600,000 foreign students studying in Australia, 100,000 were from India.

What is the lesson learnt? The idea of globalisation is not just a theory, it is in action, so in order for a nation to be competitive against the world it must have suitable policies and it must inspire an open attitude amongst its people.

(Photo: Munkey ( |*_*| ))