The foreign population of Badalona in the context of the economic crisis

Abstract

From 2000 to 2009, Badalona experienced unprecedented growth in foreign immigration. Nevertheless, in 2010, the impact of the economic crisis among immigrants was reflected in changes such as a decrease, unprecedented since 2001, in the number of foreigners recorded in the municipal population registry, a high unemployment rate and a decline in applications for permits to carry out economic activities and family reunions. Other evidence suggests that the impact of the crisis was not that noticeable in 2010, i.e. the number of foreign newborns in Catalonia registered in the Badalona population census; the number of immigrant children in schools; the activities of businesses run by foreign entrepreneurs; the moderate-price rented housing units assigned to immigrant households; the amount of real estate owned by the foreign population; and finally, the presence of temples of worship for this type of population in Badalona. These factors must have restrained the desire of immigrants to return to their countries of origin. In terms of methodology, we have made use of data, most of it unpublished, from both the population census since the year 2000 and various city council offices.