Connecting Return Intentions and Home Investment: the Case of Ghanaian Migrants in Southern Europe
Connecting Return Intentions and Home Investment: the Case of Ghanaian Migrants in Southern Europe
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Date
2015-05-17
Authors
Akwasi, Agyeman Edmond
Mercedes Fernández Garcia
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Abstract
In this paper, we analyse the return intentions and home investment of
Ghanaian migrants living in Italy and Spain. We show that the migrants’ intention to
resettle in Ghana is a strong motivation for them to invest there. Home construction is
the primary investment activity that those who desire to return undertake, followed by
setting up an income generating venture (retail shop, bakery, hairdressing salon, cash
crop and poultry farms). However, in spite of high return intentions, actual return is
largely dependent on economic success than failure. Moreover, the migrants’ desire to
educate their children in the West, keep their European residence rights, and difficult
socio-economic conditions in Ghana constitute key constraints to return. Consequently,
the migrants prefer to establish a permanent home in Europe, with the hope to
return home when their children grow up or after their labour market activity is over;
and while those in Italy desire to move onward, those in Spain prefer to stay there. In this paper, we analyse the return intentions and home investment of
Ghanaian migrants living in Italy and Spain. We show that the migrants’ intention to
resettle in Ghana is a strong motivation for them to invest there. Home construction is
the primary investment activity that those who desire to return undertake, followed by
setting up an income generating venture (retail shop, bakery, hairdressing salon, cash
crop and poultry farms). However, in spite of high return intentions, actual return is
largely dependent on economic success than failure. Moreover, the migrants’ desire to
educate their children in the West, keep their European residence rights, and difficult
socio-economic conditions in Ghana constitute key constraints to return. Consequently,
the migrants prefer to establish a permanent home in Europe, with the hope to
return home when their children grow up or after their labour market activity is over;
and while those in Italy desire to move onward, those in Spain prefer to stay there.
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Akwasi Agyeman, E., & Fernández Garcia, M. (2016). Connecting return intentions and home investment: The case of Ghanaian migrants in southern Europe. Journal of International Migration and Integration, 17, 745-759.