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/