The Race to Equilibrium

The article explains the struggle many European countries are facing due to the rapid influx of refugees coming from war-torn areas in the Middle East and Africa. In response to the immense numbers of migrants who have already entered Germany and the equally as large if not larger number of migrants still expected to enter the country, Germany has implemented a new plan for border control. The plan on reinstating border restrictions is an attempt to slow the influx of people and to not bear the burden of the humanitarian crisis alone. The European Union’s policy of passport free travel between other EU countries is now being threatened as it allows for very minimal control over immigration as the migrant crisis has increased in scope.

These restrictions are hard to implement especially as people have become overwhelmingly sensitive and emotionally attached to decisions that have to be made objectively. Even with setting feelings aside it is not possible for Germany and the other European countries affected to support a massive population of refugees out of nowhere. The countries accepting the refugees are the ones making the sacrifices considering they technically only have a duty towards supporting their own citizens. As much as everyone would like to be able to support another, to an extent it probably won’t work without help from other economies. I think that there needs to be a collective effort among all nations affected (and even those only affected peripherally) to solve some of the issues that come along with a massive increase in population.

The economic implications of the rapid and sudden increase in population should not be underestimated. Logistically, it doesn’t make sense to expect the economy to catch up at the rate necessary for supporting the ever-increasing population especially at such an unnatural rate. The overwhelming increase in demand due solely to the number of people added into the countries and their economic systems will strain the suppliers in terms of how to catch up. As people become more desperate, suppliers gain more control over the situation and can increase the prices of good due to the shortage. If that comes into play not only will the refugees be strained attempting to adopt the new culture and surroundings, they will also be taken advantage of. This shortage is not something that can be easily fixed due to its complexity. Until the economy can catch up and reach economic equilibrium again, there will be lots of unhappy people left without the basics necessary to survive.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/14/world/europe/germany-emergency-measures-european-migrant-crisis.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0