Best way to halt migration is to sabotage Europe’s economy – but nobody wants that, so what are the alternatives?

European policy and law makers have a dilemma. They want to stop irregular migration and deport as many as people as possible. But people arriving in Europe irregularly are also lured by work. Spain needs people to pick vegetables and fruit. So does Italy. I remember meeting a young man from Bangladesh on the Ocean Viking, freshly rescued after a harrowing night at sea, asking when he would start working in Italy. Hein de Haas, a sociologist and university professor in Amsterdam and Maastricht, argues that European labour demand is the ultimate migration driver. “By far the best way to stop migration is to destroy your economy,” he recently told Deutsche Welle, a German broadcaster. Not even the most anti-migrant politician would seriously push for such a proposal. They are instead shoring up controls and restrictions. Some are more obvious than others. Bangladesh seems to be a pretty good example. Let me explain. To read this story, log in or subscribeEnjoy access to all articles and 25 years of archives, comment and gift articles. Become a subscriber for as low as €1,75 per week.Read without limitsAlready a subscriber? Login