1. MOVING FROM EAST TO WEST Migration from the Former Soviet Union to Sweden, before and after the fall of the Iron Curtain Jenny Olofsson, PhD Student Department of Social and Economic Geography Umeå University, Sweden E-mail: jenny.olofsson@geography.umu.se

2. Where in the world is Sweden?

3. INTRODUCTION  Changed preconditions for migrants between Eastern and Western Europe  Despite elimination of major migration obstacles  Low rate of migration from Eastern Europe  In a Swedish context, East-West migration has been described both as a threat and as a possibility

4. Migration from the Former Soviet Union (except the Baltic States) to Sweden Source: Arizona Geographic Alliance, Department of Geography, Arizona State University, Barbara Trapido-Lurie, http://alliance.la.asu.edu/maps/FORMER~1.PDF

5. AIM AND QUESTIONS  The aim is to explore the dynamics of a growing migration system between Former Soviet Union and Sweden, before and after the collapse of the communist regimes  The first signs of an emerging migration system?  Tendencies of emerging transnational social spaces?  Gender differences when migrating?  Integration into the Swedish Society?

6. METHOD AND DATA  Register data for the years 1986, 1988, 1993, 1996, 1998 and 2003  Included in the study:  All immigrants born in Former Soviet Union residing in Sweden (and their partners)  A sample of the rest of the Swedish population

7. THEORETICAL POINTS OF DEPARTURE  Brain drain OR Brain gain/circulation/exchange  The importance of migration systems for an extensive international migration  Transnational social spaces  important when considering long-term process of migrant integration

8. MIGRATION TO SWEDEN

9. PRELIMINARY FINDINGS  60 % of the population each year are women Stock of Immigrants  Majority of young people Inflow of Immigrants

10.  The share of highly educated has increased  Place of living – 40 % lives in Stockholm County, 2003

11.  In 2003: 30 % of the immigrants in education, 12 % of the Swedish-born persons Occupation status among immigrants born in Former USSR, 18-64 yrs Occupation status among Swedish-born persons, 18-64 yrs  The share of middle and high income earners have increased

12. FURTHER ANALYSES TO COME:  The extent of permanent and temporary migration between Former Soviet Union and Sweden  The extent of family reunion migration  Integration

13. DISCUSSION: Is this the first signs of an emerging Migration System? Brain gain/circulation/exchange? Development of migrant communities? Gender differences?