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Global Issues Seminar Series October 11, 2006. Migration from a transnational perspective:. The case of Ghanaian migrants in the Netherlands and their ties back home. Valentina Mazzucato. B. Home. Host. A. Migration. Home. Host. Transnationalism. A transnational perspective.
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Global Issues Seminar Series October 11, 2006 Migration from a transnational perspective: The case of Ghanaian migrants in the Netherlands and their ties back home Valentina Mazzucato
B Home Host A Migration
Home Host Transnationalism
A transnational perspective • Linkages are focal point. • Need to look at what is happening on BOTH sides of migration.
? ( ) > ( ) remittances FROM migrants remittances TO migrants BUT Only SOMETIMES does migration provide benefits to those at home. • Depends on the migrant’s situation abroad. • 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)
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.
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.