"United in Diversity" – Quantification of Europe's Diversity and Ways to Use it as a Growth Engine

Authors: 
Parpalea, Monica Cristina
Publication date: 
2007/11/01
JEL codes: 
J15 - Economics of Minorities, Races, and Immigrants; Non-labor Discrimination.
Abstract: 
“United in diversity” is the motto of the European Union that came into use around year 2000. Taking into account the accelerated increase of immigration and the rise of more and more radical movements in Europe, this motto is still valid as concerning the increase of ethnical and religious diversity. How can we use the increase of minorities to help Europe’s Growth? Using the statistical research (Eurostat database) and theory of scholars I’ll show the current situation of UE population structure, the positive aspects as well as the possible threats and social risks within the European Union. This paper will focus mainly on 3 directions: demography, migration and religion. The two World Wars were devastating for Europe. Those were the roots of some of the problems that we are currently facing. For example, the last boom of Europe’s population immediately after the Second World War has created a record number of pensioners nowadays and in the same time the low birth rate (that has become a European characteristic), represents a challenging problem on medium and long term for the governments