Search

In recent years, various sources have indicated a surge in the volume of remittances sent by international migrants to kin in the country of origin. Some observers have argued that these remittances constitute not only a vital tool for boosting the economic development of sending countries, but also a key element of a new model of social relations. Associated with the term «transnationalism», the idea is that those migrants who fare relatively well in the host society will tend to engage increasingly in cross-border social and economic practices. In this article, survey data regarding the immigrant population in Andalusia are used to empirically verify the relationship between remittance sending and integration in the host society. Results point to a substantial decrease of remittance sending among the most integrated migrants, in comparison to those who have been living just a few years in Andalusia. This finding suggests that as their social situation improves, migrants tend to focus increasingly on the needs of self and kin in the host country. Durante los últimos años, el volumen de las remesas enviadas por los inmigrantes internacionales a familiares en el país de origen ha crecido de manera espectacular. A raíz de ello, algunos observadores vaticinan un papel clave de las remesas no sólo como herramienta para fomentar el desarrollo de los países emisores, sino también como núcleo de un nuevo modelo de convivencia. Bajo el lema del «transnacionalismo», se postula la idea de que, conforme mejore su situación en la sociedad de acogida, las actividades sociales y económicas de los emigrantes serán cada vez más transfronterizas.Utilizando datos de una encuesta de la población inmigrante en Andalucía,este artículo comprueba empíricamente la relación entre el arraigo en la sociedad de acogida y el envío de remesas. Los resultados indican que el envío de remesas disminuye sustancialmente entre los inmigrantes más arraigados, frente a aquellos que acaban de superar las dificultades típicas de la primera fase de inserción. Este hallazgo sugiere que conforme mejore la situación de los emigrantes, las necesidades de los miembros del hogar en la sociedad de acogida asumen un protagonismo creciente.

Starting from a definition of transnationalism, in this article we examine survey data collected among immigrants residing in Andalusia with a view to establishing their involvement in transnational practices such as traveling to the country of origin or the sending of remittances. We outline the socio-demographic and socio-economic profile of immigrants engaged in these practices, paying especial attention to their sustainability over time. Our data caution against any possible mystification of economic transnationalism, since we observe a clear tendency towards a decrease of remittances as migrants become increasingly settled in their country of choice.