The article examines the specifics of the phenomenon of labour migration in Poland and the Baltic States (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia) as the labour net-exporters. After joining the EU in 2004, these countries, because of their lag in the socio-economic development compared to the EU-15 states as well as existence of skilled labor surplus, began to specialize in its export. On the basis of comparative analysis of historical retrospective and current state of labour migration, its impact on the national economy and sociopolitical development, the authors draw conclusions about characteristic features of this phenomenon for each of the countries surveyed. The authors highlight the following paradox: departure of the multitude of working and socially active population reduced social tensions during the global financial and economic crisis in 2008-2009. At the same time high level of migration has corrosive consequences for socio-economic development. Another observation is that the share of 'non-citizens' in the total amount of migrant workers is small and has low significance for the overall dynamics of migration processes in Latvia and Estonia.

Lithuania Migration Central Eastern Europe 'brain drain' Baltic states Migration flows remittances Poland Estonia labour migration Latvia

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