CASE STUDY - Brazil

Question 1

current patterns of emigration

Answer 1

theres been a net loss:
- -500,000 2005-2009
- Reduced to -190,000 2010-2014
main destinations:
- USA - employment, better QOL
- Japan - many from Japanese decent
- Portugal - historical/cultural ties
- other –> Spain, Italy, Germany

Question 2

current patterns of immigration

Answer 2

• reduced over time
• main countries of origin: pgal, japan, bolivia, itlay, spain
• causes: haitian migrants post 2010 earthquake, from african countries using ecuador and chile transit routes, labour migrants linked to 2014 FIFA world cup + 2016 Rio Olympics
• more intra-regional migration within Mercosur countries
• more internal migration from northeast (rural,poor) –> southeast (industrialised, urban)

Question 3

Changes in emigration and immigration over time - historically and more recent changes

Answer 3

HISTORICALLY
- Brazil got lots migrants in 19th + 20th centuries
- Europeans attracted to coffee cultivation and agriculture - Portuguese and Italian
- Japanese in early 20th cent for agriculture
- Political instability in Bolivia and Lebanon also drove migration to Brazil

RECENT CHANGES
- Emigration rose: 0.98 million (2000) → 4 million Brazilians living abroad (2025).
- Emigrants include:
Low-skilled workers (e.g. to the USA).
Highly skilled professionals (to OECD countries).
- Immigration declined: fewer opportunities and stricter controls.

Question 4

interdependence with Portugal

Answer 4

• Historical colonial ties - Portugal colonised Brazil
• Special legal status for Brazilian migrants in Portugal
• Strong diaspora networks and remittances to support family incomes
• Portugal is gateway for Brazilians to get to EU

Question 5

interdependence with USA

Answer 5

• Largest Brazilian population abroad
• Migration corridor includes
  * Low skilled workers: remittances improve their QOL
  * Return migrants: bring back capital and skills for Brazilian development
• USA- Brazil agreements –> cover agriculture, trade, finance, education eg teacher training programmes

Question 6

interdependence with Haiti

Answer 6

• Brazil assists Haitian migrants through National Immigration Council
• Focus on: legal migration pathways (avoid trafficking),support post2010 earthquake
• Haitians often work in factories and agriculture in Rio Grande do Sul

Question 7

economic impacts of migration

Answer 7

• Historical immigration of Italians and Japanese drove growth in agriculture, manufacturing and construction
• Highly skilled today fills labour gaps supporting entrepreneurship and innovation
• Remittances from Brazilians abroad contribute to 0.2% of GDP

Question 8

political impacts of migration

Answer 8

• Brazil is stable democracy and member of Mercosur (freedom of movement and trade), G20, BRICS
• Brazil provides visas and work permits for refugees

Question 9

social impacts of migration

Answer 9

• UNESCO state Brazil faces ethnic inequalities in: housing, healthcare access, education, income
• Afro-Brazilians get discriminated against the most
• Spatial inequalities: poverty concentrated in favelas + rural areas
• Discrimination in labour market: impacts black and indigenous Brazilians, prevents full economic and political participation