The registration of foreign-born population in Catalan municipalities from 2004 to 2008.

Authors

  • Andreu Domingo
  • Albert Sabater i Coll

Keywords:

demography, international migration, foreign population, Catalonia, local government, municipal register

Abstract

The Municipal Register, which is managed by Local Government, has become a fundamental key in the Spanish statistical system for both the recording of migrant flows and for counting the resident population of the municipality. Within this context, it is also especially relevant to provide a true picture of the resident foreign population. This paper reviews the changes in foreign population inflow statistics from 2004 to 2008 by taking into consideration spatial differences between municipalities. The analysis reveals the strong effect due to the Regularisation of 2005, the effect of the Municipal Elections of 2007 and, finally, the impact of the economic recession in the second semester of 2008. For this purpose monthly data on inflows from the Residential Variation Statistics have been used for the total foreign population and for continental groups (African and Latin-American).

Published

2010-12-04

Issue

Section

Articles