The Economics of Transnational Living

Abstract

Migrants' long‐distance economic relations with their homelands have been the subject of an extensive, albeit fragmented, multidisciplinary inquiry. Most existing studies have been primarily concerned with the north‐south flow of monetary remittances that migrants send to their homelands. Using a transnational perspective informed by economic sociology tenets, this article argues that this north‐south, monetary‐centered approach is too limited, for it fails to heed the multiple macroeconomic effects of migrants' transnational economic and noneconomic connections and, thus, underestimates migrants' agency and their influence at the global level. Using the concept of transnational living, the study presents new vistas of transnational migration that question accepted notions about the relationship between labor mobility and capital mobility.

Diaspora and Transnationalism : Concepts, Theories and Methods

“…This is suggested by their patterns of sociability in the public sphere, which attempt to reproduce their earlier 'social worlds', i.e. their own habits, values and lifestyles (Guarnizo 2003). Given the structural conditions of immigrant life, however, the actual transnational interactions of migrants are rare and inconsistent, and their knowledge of current events in the motherland is just anecdotal and superficial, being shaded by their prevailing disregard and disenchantment with political life there.…”

Gambling debt: Iceland's rise and fall in the global economy

“…An important goal for many migrants moving to high-wage countries is to provide for family members back home (Brettell 2007;Guarnizo 2003;Olwig and Sørensen 2002;Vertovec 2004). Martin (2009) has pointed out the significant increase worldwide in remittance flows in the years preceding the economic crisis in 2008.…”

Chinese student mobility, local engagement and transformation of Chinese communities in England: an empirical study

“…Disagreeing with the separation between sending and host countries, the transnationalism approach emphasises on the connections between places (Guarnizo, 2002;Gargano, 2009) at various levels from transnational and national to local levels (Collins, 2009;Brickell and Datta, 2011). Instead of individual choice, furthermore, the role of transnational social ties and in particular family decision making is highlighted (Waters, 2006;Geddie, 2013).…”