Migration and development

Remittances and Aid

Under the aid architecture theme, INTRAC researchers are undertaking research on the confluence of remittances and official aid. A briefing paper on remittances and development is available to download below.

08Remittances and Migration.doc (164Kb)

Examining the Construction of Wellbeing across Spatial Boundaries

Katie Wright, a senior researcher at INTRAC, won an ESRC grant to examine how wellbeing is socially and culturally constructed across spatial boundaries. This was investigated through the lens of migration.

This research ran from August 2005 until August 2007, linked to the Wellbeing in Developing Countries Research Group at the University of Bath through which the grant was awarded ESRC Wellbeing in Developing Countries Research Group. The results of this research have been widely disseminated within INTRAC and through its user communities’ forums (such as the NGO forum).

The working paper below provides a wellbeing analysis of international migration by inductively analysing perceived obstacles or blocks to achieving wellbeing amongst a sample of 99 Peruvian migrants based in London and Madrid. It explores how people construct their wellbeing in different cultural settings and adapt as they move between different societal contexts and systems of meaning. Adopting a wellbeing perspective has considerable advantages for understanding the phenomenon of international migration. At the same time it affirms key elements in our understanding of wellbeing through post hoc identification of four major obstacles to improved wellbeing: loss of autonomy, enjoyment, relatedness and social status.

Wellbeing and Migration WeD working paper 33.pdf (128Kb)