2.2% of Italian pensioners abroad, but now 'migration' is slowing down: here's why
Italians with a pension living in other countries represent more than 2.2% of the total number of pension recipients. But the phenomenon of 'migrations', in vogue in recent years mainly due to the tax advantages guaranteed by some countries such as Portugal, Albania or Malta, is now diminishing due to the rising cost of living in other countries as well and the health costs to be faced for private insurance. Acli: reflection on the future is needed. Among the proposals made is that of investing in inland areas to stop the flight of pensioners
by Marco Rogari
3' min read
Key points
3' min read
It is represented by more than 2.2% of the total number of Italian pensioners, in 52.3% of cases it is female, and mainly consists of relatively young couples. These are the 'people' of retired Italians who have decided to move abroad, mainly for the tax advantages but also for a lower cost of living than in our country.
A phen0meno that has been very fashionable in recent years but is now in a decreasing phase, as shown by a research study by Acli, in collaboration with Camerino University and also based on Inps data, which was presented at the Chamber of Deputies, in the presence, among others, of Toni Ricciardi (M5s) and Virginio Merola (Pd). And among the causes of this decrease, the dossier identifies the increase in the cost of living even in foreign destinations, the health costs that have to be met for private insurance, and also the renunciation of 'advantage' measures implemented by the Italian government, such as the 'social card'. The Acli emphasise: reflection is needed for the future. Among the proposals made is that of investing in inland areas to stop the flight of pensioners.
Motives and factors favouring the 'migration' of Italian pensioners
According to the research presented by the Acli - which is based on a comparative analysis of regulations and data on emigration and social integration of retired emigrants edited by Stefano Testa Bappenheim, of the University of Camerino - 'tax savings', the lower cost of living than in Italy and also the south-western climate of the destination abroad, are among the reasons that have led Italian pensioners to move to other countries. But there are also other factors that may have favoured the move, such as fast travel by plane, often with basic costs in the case of low-cost airlines, freedom of movement in the EU or the possibility of using the euro.
Portugal, Albania and Malta among the countries with 'tax appeal' for our pensioners
The study gives ample space to an analysis of the various advantages, primarily fiscal (but not only), that there may be in various countries to 'attract' foreign pensioners. On the 'comparison' list are Portugal, Spain, Malta, Greece, Bulgaria, Albania, Tunisia and Cape Verde.
What happens after the preferential taxation period
The research shows that once the preferential taxation period had expired, people who had moved tended to stay in the 'new' country. But in cases where one of the spouses had died in the meantime and the retired person had children and grandchildren in Italy, there was a greater propensity to return to our country.
