Development of Roma Settlements in Northern Moldova Around Hubs and Interchanges

Abstract

The commercial roads, which have linked Northern Moldavia to the other regions of the country ever since the Middle Ages, have remained, up until now, intensely distributed and at the base of the economic development of the localities which they throughout. With the exchange of goods which are to be carried out in trade fairs located at the intersection of these roads, traders also transport the Roma ethnic slaves which, after the liberation of the year 1844, have settled in these areas. The region of study is within the region of the north-east of Romania and includes the counties of Iasi, Botosani, Suceava and Neamt. The research was focused on the analysis of statistical data obtained from the National Institute of Statistics, local councils, county centers for the Roma, the National Company of Highways and National Roads from Romania and the Romanian railway and the collection of information on the ground by questioning Roma people from the pilot localities Pascani, Dolhasca, Dorohoi and Veresti The research has revealed a large concentration of the number of Roma settlements at the intersection with the main road railways. Compared with Roma in other localities in the study area who do not have these transport facilities, the proportions of Roma communities from Paşcani, Dolhasca, Vereşti, Dorohoi, Iasi, Suceava and Roman represent over 10% of the population stable. Opportunities due to development of transport networks in northern Moldavia does not only reflect on the growth of the Roma population density but also on the economic development of the area.