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Asset Accumulation through International Migration: Gender, Remittances, and Decision Making in Ecuador

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 September 2022

Carmen Diana Deere  and
Gina Alvarado
Carmen Diana Deere
Affiliation:
University of Florida
Gina Alvarado
Affiliation:
International Center for Research on Women (ICRW)
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Abstract

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This study considers whether there are gender differences in the ability of international migrants as well as remittance managers in households of origin to channel remittances to physical and financial asset accumulation. Drawing on a national-level survey of household assets for Ecuador, we show that while only a small share of male or female migrants are able to channel their remittances to asset accumulation, women are as likely to do so as men. Moreover, female migrants tend to exert greater control over their remittances than men, particularly when these are to be used for the acquisition of assets. In addition, women managers in households of origin are a majority of those owning the assets purchased with remittances. These results suggest that processes of international migration may strengthen the economic autonomy of women and facilitate greater gender equality.

Resumen

Resumen

Este artículo analiza si existen diferencias de género en la capacidad de los y las migrantes internacionales, así como de los y las administradoras de remesas en los hogares de origen, para canalizar remesas hacia la acumulación de activos físicos y financieros. Sobre la base de una encuesta a nivel nacional de los activos del hogar para el Ecuador, se muestra que mientras que una pequeña parte de los y las migrantes son capaces de canalizar sus remesas a la acumulación de activos, las mujeres son más propensas a hacerlo que los hombres. Por otra parte, las mujeres migrantes tienden a ejercer un mayor control sobre sus remesas que los hombres, sobre todo cuando éstas se destinan para la adquisición de activos. Además, las mujeres administradoras de remesas en hogares de origen son la mayoría de los que poseen los activos adquiridos con remesas. Estos resultados sugieren que los procesos de la migración internacional pueden fortalecer la posición de negociación de las mujeres y facilitar una mayor igualdad de género.

Type
Research Article
Information
Latin American Research Review , Volume 51 , Issue 4 , 2016 , pp. 249 - 270
Copyright
Copyright © 2016 by the Latin American Studies Association

Footnotes

This work was supported by a grant from the United National Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women). The authors are grateful to Jean D'Acunha, Yassine Fall, Gioconda Herrera, Abena D. Oduro, and three anonymous reviewers whose comments greatly improved the analysis.

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