Remittances from immigrants in Norway

Sted: PRIO

Ledet av Kristian Berg Harpviken

The principal objective of the project is to analyse patterns and dynamics of migrant remittances out of Norway, in a way that contributes to the international academic debate and at the same time meets domestic demands for knowledge.

Sub-goals:

• Analyse and document the relationship between remittance-sending and integration.
• Analyse and document the processes behind immigrants' choices of remittance transfer mechanisms.
• Analyse and document the perceptions of remittance transfers and expenditures by Somali and Pakistanis in Norway, and by their counterparts in Somalia and Pakistan.
• Identify options for reconciling different remittance-related policy priorities concerning integration in Norway, development in countries of origin, and prevention of financial crime.
• Publish at least six peer-reviewed articles in leading international journals.
• Publish at least one article in a Norwegian social-scientific journal.
• Submit and successfully defend one PhD.

The proposed project will generate new knowledge about migrant remittances out of Norway, i.e. money sent from immigrants to their countries of origin. This is an important element in sustained transnational ties after migration. On the global level, migrant remittances to developing countries amount to twice as much as development aid. Within Norwegian society, remittances can reflect immigrants' priorities, attachments and obligations and thereby shed light on the complex relationship between transnationalism and integration.

The project will use Norwegian data to contribute to the international literature on remittances. It will also apply the researchers' international experience to a Norwegian context where research on remittances has been virtually inexistent. The project will facilitate the development of remittance-related policies that better reconcile conflicting interests. Today, efforts to combat money laundering, tax fraud and the financing of terrorism often reduce migrants' potential to make a contribution to the development of their countries of origin. Furthermore, excessive transfer costs from Norway in particular means that large amounts that could have benefited migrants' families are lost to remittance companies.

The project will be guided by four research questions:

1. How is the sending of remittances related to integration?
2. How do immigrants in Norway choose remittance transfer mechanisms?
3. How is the transfer and expenditure of remittances perceived by senders and receivers?
4. How can Norwegian policy better reconcile the different interests related to remittances?

The research design combines statistical analyses of a new, large dataset from Statistics Norway with extensive fieldwork among Somalis and Pakistanis in Norway and in their countries of origin. The research team will collaborate with a Professor at Quaid-i-Azam University in Pakistan and an expert on Somali remittances at the University of Oxford.