Peruvians emigrate despite economic recovery

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Despite an economic recovery in Peru that has analysts saying could mean 7percent growth in the South American nations economy this year, Peruviancitizens are emigrating at a record pace. In the first half of this year, an average of 1,149 people have left Peru every day to live elsewhere in the world, and some analysts say that it is the recovery itself that has made it possible for so many people to leave. Many families send one member to work outside the country and send back dollars to the family, seeing that as a better investment than trying to make money inside the country. One reason for the exodus may be that, despite the recovery, unemployment in Lima, Perus capital city, is still at around 8.5 percent. Many more of the emigrants come from there rather than from outlying areas, where most of the effects of the recovery have been felt. Many people complain that jobs are hard to find in the city and that the pay is too low when they do find a job. The most popular places for Peruvians to go are the United States and Chile; 40 percent of emigrants in 2004 went to one of those two countries. Five percent choose to go to Spain.