tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336648542166394110.post4650065541137324706..comments2023-06-05T08:10:46.298-07:00Comments on Edward.Hugh.Blog: Message To Central Bankers: Target Median Ages!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336648542166394110.post-41576739164108098582008-02-03T13:26:00.000-08:002008-02-03T13:26:00.000-08:00Hello Lars,Well I would prefer to say that Denmark...Hello Lars,<BR/><BR/>Well I would prefer to say that Denmark - as a state, not individually - is not especially welcoming to immigrants, although I suspect that even this may be changing as people are waking up to the consequences of having long run below replacement fertility if you don't complement with immigrants. My guess is that a consenus is emerging across Scandinavia on this, although Denmark may well be in the rearguard rather than the Van. Also your recent economic problems following the crack in the construction boom may complicate peoples attitudes as unemployment rises in the short term.<BR/><BR/>Ukraine is a very different case, since it is a comparatively poor emerging economy, with huge problems, which include low life expectancy and low fertility. Ukraine is quite literally dying, and at the same time it is being virtually bled to death by others needs for migrants - Portugal, Russia, Poland etc. <BR/><BR/>So it isn't a question of double standards, but you will forgive me if my heart rather goes out to Ukraine. I'm not sure on the other hand I ever mentioned Ukraine - as oppesed to the Czech Republic - as a country which has a policy which actually welcomes immigrants. Since legally speaking Ukraine is a much more lax state than Denmark, it is simply the case that migrants - normally irregularly - arrive there. Whether they will stay, or be welcome in the longer run, remains to be seen I think. I appreciate your reservations, since all the East european societies seem to be a long way from being prepared for some variant of multi culturalism.<BR/><BR/>"You don't get tens of thousands of dollars per year paid by the state, and free and top quality health care if you are an immigrant in Ukraine."<BR/><BR/>No. I obviously agree. But part of the problem would seem to be in persuading Danish voters that it is in their interests to extend this situation to a rather larger number of people in the near future. Although, I'm not sure I follow. Why does the state pay you thousands of dollars a year when you arrive in Denmark, and for how long? I think if this was more widely understood a lot more people might be interested to go there, and your problems in finding unskilled workers for the future would soon be over.Edward Hughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10384039867580949531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7336648542166394110.post-63725118927302084182008-02-03T07:20:00.000-08:002008-02-03T07:20:00.000-08:00You have described Ukraine as a country that is op...You have described Ukraine as a country that is open for immigrants and now you are describing Denmark as a country that is openly hostile to immigrants.<BR/><BR/>Knowing both countries, I would say that Denmark discusses immigrants more than Ukraine, both countries like immigrants from each other's countries, but hostility towards immigrants from other areas of the world (africa, asia) seems to be worst in Ukraine.<BR/><BR/>You can argue, that Denmark may have more restrictions on immigration, but then again, we also reward legal immigrants most. You don't get tens of thousands of dollars per year paid by the state, and free and top quality health care if you are an immigrant in Ukraine.Lars Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06217303713945608384noreply@blogger.com