Migration networks and return expectations. The case of Romanians in Spain

Abstract

In recent years, studies concerning interpersonal relations and their various implications are increasingly being taken as a basis for analysing the migration process, to determine the nature and impacts of migratory networks on immigrants' socio-economic situation in their country of origin and in the host society. The existence or absence of social networks as well as the nature of ties (closed or open) are considered key factors in the success or failure of an immigrant’s life project and expectations of returning home. This paper explores the relationship between social capital accrued by migrations networks and expected return. The analysis is based on two types of social capital: bridging and bonding. A sample of Romanian immigrants in the region of Castellon was surveyed on a number of variables. Study results show that immigrants' expectations of return are negatively related to social capital at the place of destination, suggesting that when immigrants build bridging and bonding social capital in the host society their expectations of returning home decrease.