Serbian Development and Economic Migration Patterns

Since the end of the Yugoslav war, Serbia has undergone a number of changes in its population, living standards, and relations with other countries. One of those relationships is with the European Union, which Serbia is now a candidate for membership. These changes may have had an impact on emigrant patterns from Serbia since the end of the war. While many of those who left the country were asylum seekers in need of international protection, there was also economic migrants in search of better employment opportunities. The changing conditions in Serbia could have affected citizens’ desire to remain there. This paper will analyze the conditions in Serbia and its status as an EU candidate country at three points in time, 2002, 2011, and 2017. It is hypothesized that in 2002 emigrant patterns would be the highest because of poor societal conditions in areas such as education, employment, and democratic governance. As Serbia progresses through the EU accession criteria, it is expected that emigrant patterns will decrease because of improved societal conditions. This paper seeks to identify and analyze the factors that have influenced these patterns