Download - Migration from a transnational perspective:
Migration from a transnational perspective:
Valentina Mazzucato
The case of Ghanaian migrants in the Netherlands and their ties
back home
Global Issues Seminar Series October 11, 2006
Home Host
A
B
Migration
Home Host
Transnationalism
A transnational perspective
• Linkages are focal point.
• Need to look at what is happening on BOTH sides of migration.
A transnational network
community proj.1%
health1%
funerals in own family6%
ceremonies others2%
Help41%
general/subsistance20%
education11%
Housing16%
Business33%
Other6%
Costs of papers4%
Benefits to people back home
BUT
remittances TO migrants
remittances FROM migrants >( () )
Only SOMETIMES does migration provide benefits to those at home. a) Depends on the migrant’s situation abroad.b) Remittances are two-way flows.
?
Ghanaians in the NL
• Arrived since 1980s
• Low education levels
• Men and women
• Officially 18,700 in 2004 (more likely around 45,000)
Netherlands International
Neighborhood Amsterdam Other
School fees Home purchase Dutch wax cloth Phone calls
Church/association donations
Rent Health insurance Electronics
Food shopping Car purchase Income tax Plane tickets
Liquor (for cultural ceremonies)
City tax Lawyers Shipping
Services (child care, call centers, money transfers, travel agencies)
Marriage partner
Connection men
Connection men
Foreign police Detectives
Dutch Embassy
Non-remittance expenditures
Formal and informal economies of identity docs.
2001 2002 2003
•Staying permit 56 430
•Renewal of staying permit 0 285
•Permit for unlimited time 227 890
•Legalization of birth certificate 122
•‘Typical’ immigration lawyer fee 1,000
•‘Help’ with legalization procedure 2,000
•Marriage partner 10,000
~~ Euros ~~
Conclusion 1
• Migration policies in migrant-receiving countries affect the development potential of migrants.
Remittances as two-way flows
• Migrants receive services and goods from home:– Housing construction– Child care– Business management– Local goods (food, medicine, clothes, videos)
• Also receive services related to helping migrants in crisis situations.
Table 6. Crisis events and help needed Crisis event N1 Type of help From whom
Services
Getting a staying permit in the black market
12 Finding a trustworthy candidate
Family and friends in Ghana and The Netherlands
Rectifying a marriage deal gone wrong
4 Arbitration Family and friends in Ghana and The Netherlands
Getting released from prison
2 Getting you out of prison
Family and friends in Ghana and The Netherlands
Something happened to child in Ghana
2 Helping child Family and friends in Ghana
Financial
Funeral of an important family member
2 Paying for the funeral Family and friends in The Netherlands
Losing job 6 Subsistence Family and friends in The Netherlands
1Number of events.
Remittances as two-way flows
Conclusion 2
• Policies in migrant-receiving countries affect the “costs” of migration for migrant-sending countries.
Overall implications
• Migration studies need to look at BOTH ends of the migration equation.
• International development agencies and Western country governments need to address the fact that migration policies in migrant-receiving countries affect the development potential of migration.
Ghana TransNetwww2.fmg.uva.nl/ghanatransnet/