University of Zurich examined money flows: Migrants from Portugal mostly send money home

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Switzerland is one of the countries from which immigrants transfer the most money to their home countries worldwide. Those from Portugal generally send smaller amounts, while those from the United Kingdom send larger amounts, although less frequently, according to a new study.

For the study published in the journal “Journal of Ethnic and Migration Research,” researchers at the University of Zurich (UZH) interviewed nearly 3,000 people living in Switzerland from various European countries in writing about money transfers, UZH announced Thursday.

Germans are stingy

Result: At least 21 percent of survey respondents send money to their home country at least once a year. 46 percent of Portuguese said they send money home every year. Those from Germany (15 percent) and Italy (13 percent) are below average.

According to the researchers, this is due to the higher number of second-generation immigrants among those surveyed. In general, second-generation immigrants send less money because their parents have fewer and stronger social relationships in their home countries, the researcher said.

No signs of failed integration

According to the research, average annual amounts also vary greatly depending on nationality. Approximately 4,000 francs per capita were transferred from Great Britain, followed by Portugal with 2,200 francs and Germany with 1,100 francs. Bosnia and Herzegovina’s contributions are the lowest (324 francs).

While immigrants from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy and Serbia use money transfers mainly to support their families and friends, Portuguese immigrants mostly transfer money to their own accounts.

Payments depend on successful integration into the labor market, hence the migrants’ high income and ties to their home country. According to the study, identification with one’s home country, Switzerland, perceived discrimination and knowledge of Swiss national languages ​​do not play a role. The researchers emphasized in the UZH communication that remittances to the home country are not a sign that integration has failed. (SDA/koh)

Source :Blick