Izvorni znanstveni članak
Emigration of Labour - a Factor of Sociological and Economic Changes in Yugoslavia's Rural Areas
Ivo Baučić
Sažetak
The emigration of Yugoslav workers, who leave their country to take up
temporary employment abroad, has surprised by its high rate and intensity. Starting
only in recent times, it has grown to unexpected proportions. Failure to control
it may have unsuspected consequences. It is not even possible to determine with
any precision the actual number of Yugoslav workers employed abroad. According
to official figures, some 650,000 Yugoslav workers were employed in foreign countries
at the end of 1970; about 500,000 of them come from rural communities and
were previously concerned with farming. s
It is not yet possible to obtain a clear picture of the effects this massive
exodus of labour may have on Yugoslavia's economy in general, and on her rural
areas and agriculture in particular. However, certain effects are already noticeable:
the workers’ skills, working habits and attitude to work appear to be undergoing
a change.
In rural areas, the first major visible consequences are those arising from
Yugoslav emigrants’ investments in house construction. Most of the — often considerable
— savings of Yugoslav workers employed abroad are invested in the
construction of new houses, though often without adequate economic considerations,
because subjective feelings (social prestige within the community, etc.) tend
to be decisive. Investment in agriculture and other industries is very limited, primarily
because of the uncertain position of private farmers and the still unsettled
questions of private investment and private enterprise in Yugoslavia.
The adverse consequences of the unsettled status of Yugoslav workers temporarily
employed abroad are manifold: a large proportion of the savings are invested
or kept abroad; workers tend to prolong their stay abroad; investment in
housebuilding fails to take account of economic considerations; etc., — all of
which affects the country’s economy, especially its agriculture and rural areas
from where almost 75% of the Yugoslav emigrant workers derive.
Ključne riječi
Hrčak ID:
119393
URI
Datum izdavanja:
10.6.1971.
Posjeta: 879 *