The impact of Albanian transnational migration to Greece on socio-economic development in Fier, Albania : a case study

Abstract

This study attempts to assess the impact of Albanian transnational migration to Greece on the socioeconomic development of post-communist Albania focusing on the town of Fier. Adopting a gender-based perspective and a qualitative research design of semi-structured interviews on eighteen Albanian transnational migrants in Fier, Albania and Athens, Greece, I found that Albanian migrants, settled in Greece and returnees to Albania, contributed through economic and social remittances to the survival of their families and well-being of their communities in Fier. Such contributions hold the potential of fostering socio-economic transformation for both the municipality of Fier and Albania. Moreover, transnational migration encompassed family strategies and relationships between Albanian immigrants in Athens and their families in Albania, which most likely generated development and increased well-being in Fier. Finally, transnational care was mutually shown, between Albanians in Athens and their families in Fier. Such care involved financial, emotional and symbolic dimensions.