Immigration and tourism from Russia boost economy and population of Eastern Finland
Published:
22 March 2005 y., Tuesday
The proximity of the Russian border is having an increasing impact on life in the eastern and southeastern parts of Finland. It is visible and audible in many ways in the everyday life of border communities, and is gradually also being felt in statistics.
Although the number of Russian residents is still small, about two percent at the most, the trend can already be felt in municipal net migration figures.
Perttu Vartiainen, the Rector of the University of Joensuu, and Professor of Social Geography, has done research on migration trends. He predicts that in areas which have been losing net population, the relative impact of the Russians will be strong in the coming years.
"When net emigration and mortality are high, immigration is the only positive counterforce. The proportion of Finns will decline, and that of people linked with the Russian language or culture in one way or another will increase."
Two thirds of immigrants living in Finland are from Russia or the former Soviet Union, and 90% of all immigrants living in Eastern Finland are Russians.
About 4,000 Russian citizens live in South and North Karelia, in addition to many others who speak Russian as their mother tongue.
However, the "Russians" are by no means a uniform group of people. Many of those who speak Russian are not Russian citizens.
"If we speak of those moving to Finland from the area of the former Soviet Union, the group will include Estonians citizens, some of whom are Russians and Ingrian Finns", Vartiainen points out.
Šaltinis:
helsinginsanomat.fi
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
The fact that over 80% of the world's children live in the developing world with a poor quality of life is the reason Europe “should take positive action”, according to Glenys Kinnock.
more »
Houses collapse on the outskirts of La Paz Bolivia.
more »
In a remote corner of Siberia children with disabilities are being offered a helping paw.
more »
In Hungary every February The Buso men march through the streets hoping their efforts will help usher in the spring.
more »
Besides fostering dialogues among the world's most influential chefs, the event also is aimed at promoting Japanese food culture to the world.
more »
A new trend in fake fashion is taking China by storm.
more »
When it comes to social protection, the EU has some of the strongest laws on the books.
more »
The Taj Mahal is under threat - a series of cracks have appeared in the walls of the structure.
more »
French and Danish journalists share first prize in the 2008 journalist award "For diversity, against discrimination".
more »
Rallies can be used to pump up people's enthusiasm for all kinds of things but here in Japan schools and colleges are drafting in teams of cheerleaders to boost enthusiasm among students about to enter the jobs market.
more »