Youth development assured if we guarantee their wellbeing

Malthusianism is a theory that population growth is potentially exponential, so according to the Malthusian growth model, while the growth of the food supply or other resources is linear, which eventually reduces living standards to the point of triggering a population decline. In one sense, Malthus reversed the arguments of the mercantilists that the number of people determined the nation’s resources, adopting the contrary argument of the Physiocrats that the resource base determined the numbers of people.

Mercantilism is an economic theory that was prevalent from the 16th to the 18th centuries, advocating for government regulation of the economy such as to increase national wealth by maximizing exports and minimizing imports. It aimed to accumulate precious metals and strengthen state power, often leading to colonial expansion and trade monopolies.

Some say the transactional theories of Trump in the US mimic Mercantilism in the past. Back to local population projections, it cannot be stated too strongly that such exercises are not predictions, though they are misinterpreted as such. A projection is a “what-if” exercise based on explicit assumptions that may or may not themselves be correct. If the arithmetic of a projection is done correctly, its utility is determined by the plausibility of its central assumptions. If the assumptions embody plausible future trends, then the projection’s outputs may be plausible and useful. If the assumptions are implausible, then so is the projection. In 2023, the National Youth Council of Ireland called for action from their government so young people were not overlooked in the budget. Surveys back then revealed that 7 out of 10 young Irish were seriously considering emigration for a better quality of life than in Ireland.

Something like that clearly demonstrates locally, that with political propaganda talk of “a better quality of life” originating from PN quarters, or a diametrically opposite view of “the best is still to come” originating from Labour quarters, our youth consider themselves confused. How can youth be sure that they would enjoy a better quality of life elsewhere. Now our country does experience a shortage of labour because of migration, which can lead to a “brain drain”, depriving us of the skilled people needed to sustain the economy.

There may also be drops in productivity when highly skilled migrants leave the country or when AI, automation replaces jobs in factories. A new scheme partners with Jobsplus and educational institutions to offer training and guidance on how citizens acquire and improve qualifications. The government has recently renewed the youth guarantee scheme with an investment of €10 million. It noted that nine out of 10 of the 6,000 young people who took part in the scheme last year obtained skills and higher qualifications or entered the workplace.

Yet can one really blame youth’s desire to migrate when for instance home ownership has become an unattainable dream for many young families. Rising property prices and expensive rental rates make it nearly impossible for first-time buyers to enter the housing market without taking on unsustainable debt. The government continues to boast about economic success, but numbers alone do not tell the real story of daily struggles. As financial stress increases so does social instability.

Crime rates are rising, and many citizens feel an increasing sense of insecurity. Reports of theft of drugs stored in barracks under Armed Forces surveillance, apart from related offenses and violence have hit the headlines. An EY survey had revealed that, despite our political parties boasting that they had the interests of youngsters at heart, observers were not convinced at all. They harbour different values than those prioritised by politicians. Young people are more interested in preserving the land, nature and environment than being bothered about statistics on economic growth, cash incentives on EV cars, educational benefits or immigration.

Our youth would rather live and work in another country, but whether their dreams and concerns are translated into reality is another story. There is much more to it than meets the eye. And let us face it: this phenomenon of a poll showing 70% of youngsters wishing to leave their country for good and seek better pastures abroad is not something to throw under the carpet and be labelled as gaslighting. The pangs of higher cost of living, run-away inflation, noise pollution and the not- so-silent invasion of tower cranes continue to exacerbate the youth’s plight, so it is not unexpected that some youngsters are drawn to move out. Naturally, a majority of those who leave the country are of working age and usually hold a higher education degree.

The good news is that a revised labour force migration policy now introduces measures to oblige employers to favour Maltese and EU workers, retain their non-EU workers and treat them well and encourages non-EU workers who are already working in Malta to stay, up-skill and integrate into local communities. It is based on four principles: retaining existing workers, protecting workers' rights and conditions, aligning labour migration to workforce needs and refocusing migration on a skills-based approach. The government wants to encourage employers to retain as many of their workers as possible for as long as possible.

The policy will make life easier and decrease paperwork and expenses for companies that retain workers and treat them well. Regardless, many students are dead set on moving permanently abroad after completing their studies. They are seriously concerned that in Malta, rewarding employment opportunities are few and far between, especially for the highly educated. Eventually, abroad they hope to have it good within a larger labour market, a laid-back atmosphere, and opportunities to pursue an international career.

Most emigrants might return to Malta a year or two after moving abroad or try it out in another foreign country, but the longer they stay abroad, the less likely they are to return. All this indicates that dissatisfaction with the current place of living tends to increase the potential for our youth’s decision to migrate abroad. As emigration rates increase, the migrants’ overall quality of life, reflected in their financial status and job satisfaction, access to quality medical and educational services, and leisure opportunities, can potentially gratify their move.

Today, globalisation, ease of travel and other comforts have made it easier to migrate than in the fifties and sixties, when Maltese emigrated to find employment and escape poverty. 

In that era, Maltese youngsters genuinely believed their destiny lies to relocate in a different country. Today, under the economic turmoil of world-wide tariff war, we must continue to improve chances of youth achieving a better future in their host country.