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The New Normal – Global Migration
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The New Normal – Global Migration


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Editorial Rating

7

Recommendation

Migration patterns have shifted dramatically in recent years. Asylum seekers now are traveling farther and in larger numbers than ever before. Meanwhile, European leaders have failed to respond adequately to the growing numbers of refugees arriving at their borders. According to Solveigh Hieronimus, a partner at McKinsey & Company, the influx of refugees could generate enormous revenues, but only if European nations integrate the new arrivals into society quickly and seamlessly. getAbstract recommends Hieronimus’s data-rich report to policy makers, civil society groups focused on assimilation and European citizens concerned about the welfare of incoming refugees.

Summary

In the post–World War II era, the typical passage of an asylum seeker entailed a journey of about 100 km [62 miles] to a safer region within the exile’s country of origin or to an adjacent country. This pattern has shifted in recent years. Refugees from developing countries are now fleeing to developed countries in large numbers. In 2015, some 2.5 million forced migrants arrived in Europe, mainly from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. These immigrants crossed as many as 10 borders and journeyed 3,000 km, on average, to reach Europe. This pattern has evolved because increasing numbers of people are motivated to flee hardship ...

About the Speaker

Solveigh Hieronimus is a partner at McKinsey & Company, where she leads work on refugees and migration.