Re-thinking the role of remittances in transnational relationships

Presented at the Globalisation, Transnationalism and Development Colloquium, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Maastricht University, 6 November 2013. Like all my slide decks, this one is a visual aid to an oral presentation, not a self-explanatory document. There's more information on my publications and work in progress on my web site: www.jorgencarling.com.

Transcript

1. Globalisation, Transnationalism and Development Colloquium, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Maastricht University, 6 November 2013 Re-thinking the role of remittances in transnational relationships Jørgen Carling
2. Re-thinking the role of remittances in transnational relationships Previous work with different… – Perspectives – Methods – Literatures
3. Re-thinking the role of remittances in transnational relationships Current project Theorizing Risk, Money and Moralities in Migration (TRiMM)
4. Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead Re-thinking the role of remittances in transnational relationships
5. Re-thinking the role of remittances in transnational relationships Economics- oriented literature Ethnographic literature Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
6. Economics- oriented literature Ethnographic literature • Shared theoretical reference points Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
7. Pure altruism Pure self- interest Tempered altruism or enlightened self-interest Motivations to remit Repayment Coinsurance Inheritance Investment Return
8. Economics- oriented literature Ethnographic literature • Shared theoretical reference points • Explicitly about remittances • Often socially decontextualized • Rich social contextualization • Remittances often a sub-theme • Patchy theorizing about remittances Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
9. Economics- oriented literature Ethnographic literature “It’s anecdotal and it can’t be measured” “Reality is much more complex than that” Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
10. Economics- oriented literature Ethnographic literature • Don’t just say it’s complex • Be careful in privileging the measurable • Balance the specific and the general Propositions Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
11. • Balance the specific and the general James Hill / New York Times Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
12. Carling, J (2008) ‘The human dynamics of migrant transnationalism.’ Ethnic and Racial Studies, 31(8): 1452-1477. • Balance the specific and the general Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
13. Carling, J (2008) ‘The human dynamics of migrant transnationalism.’ Ethnic and Racial Studies, 31(8): 1452-1477. • Balance the specific and the general Intrinsic asymmetries Frustrating for both sides Varying and contradictory Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
14. Sender Receiver Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
15. Sender Receiver Transactors Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
16. Feelings Expectations Requitals Rituals Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
17. Transaction models • Purchase • Gift • Allowance • Assistance • Contribution • Alms • Sacrifice • Entitlement • Pooling • Loan • Repayment • Investment • Authorization • Blackmail Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
18. Transaction models • Purchase • Gift • Allowance • Assistance • Contribution • Alms • Sacrifice • Entitlement • Pooling • Loan • Repayment • Investment • Authorization • Blackmail Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
19. Transaction models • Purchase • Gift • Allowance • Assistance • Contribution • Alms • Sacrifice • Entitlement • Pooling • Loan • Repayment • Investment • Authorization • Blackmail Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
20. Transaction models • Purchase • Gift • Allowance • Assistance • Contribution • Alms • Sacrifice • Entitlement • Pooling • Loan • Repayment • Investment • Authorization • Blackmail Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
21. • Purchase • Gift • Allowance • Assistance • Contribution • Alms • Sacrifice • Entitlement • Pooling • Loan • Repayment • Investment • Authorization • Blackmail Transaction models Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
22. • Purchase • Gift • Allowance • Assistance • Contribution • Alms • Sacrifice • Entitlement • Pooling • Loan • Repayment • Investment • Authorization • Blackmail Transaction models Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
23. • Purchase • Gift • Allowance • Assistance • Contribution • Alms • Sacrifice • Entitlement • Pooling • Loan • Repayment • Investment • Authorization • Blackmail Transaction models Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
24. • Purchase • Gift • Allowance • Assistance • Contribution • Alms • Sacrifice • Entitlement • Pooling • Loan • Repayment • Investment • Authorization • Blackmail Transaction models Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
25. • Purchase • Gift • Allowance • Assistance • Contribution • Alms • Sacrifice • Entitlement • Pooling • Loan • Repayment • Investment • Authorization • Blackmail Transaction models Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
26. • Purchase • Gift • Allowance • Assistance • Contribution • Alms • Sacrifice • Entitlement • Pooling • Loan • Repayment • Investment • Authorization • Blackmail Transaction models Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
27. • Purchase • Gift • Allowance • Assistance • Contribution • Alms • Sacrifice • Entitlement • Pooling • Loan • Repayment • Investment • Authorization • Blackmail Transaction models Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
28. • Purchase • Gift • Allowance • Assistance • Contribution • Alms • Sacrifice • Entitlement • Pooling • Loan • Repayment • Investment • Authorization • Blackmail Transaction models Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
29. ? • Purchase • Gift • Allowance • Assistance • Contribution • Alms • Sacrifice • Entitlement • Pooling • Loan • Repayment • Investment • Authorization • Blackmail Transaction models Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
30. Transnational relations Generic aspects of relations Migration- induced aspects of relations Remittance transactions Generic aspects of transaction model Migration- induced aspects of transactions
31. • Purchase • Gift • Allowance • Assistance • Contribution • Alms • Sacrifice • Entitlement • Pooling • Loan • Repayment • Investment • Authorization • Blackmail Transaction models Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
32. Market shares Cultural norms Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
33. Market shares Cultural norms Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
34. Good migrants remit Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
35. Good migrants remit Market actors National politicians Development agencies Neighbourhood gossip Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
36. Economics- oriented literature Ethnographic literature Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
37. Economics- oriented literature Ethnographic literature Research Question: Are migrants altruistic or self-interested? Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
38. Economics- oriented literature Ethnographic literature Research Question: Are migrants altruistic or self-interested? Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead Research Question: ?
39. Research Question: Are migrants altruistic or self-interested? Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead Research Question: ?
40. Research Questions Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
41. Research Questions Two literatures Human dynamics Remittance transactions Looking ahead
42. jorgen@prio.no www.prio.org/staff/jorgen www.jorgencarling.com @jorgencarling Thank you!