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Retirement Migration in Europe: A Choice for a Better Life?

Author

Listed:
  • Marion Repetti

    (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, USA)

  • Christopher Phillipson

    (University of Manchester, UK)

  • Toni Calasanti

    (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, USA)

Abstract

This article examines the impact of economic inequalities on the individual choices that North European retirees make when they migrate to Mediterranean countries. It considers a group of retired and early-retired migrants who live permanently in Spain and have limited economic resources. Through a qualitative methodology based on semi-structured interviews with retirement migrants as well as ethnographic observations and spontaneous conversations in the study site, we provide new sociological knowledge about the relations between retirement migration and the unequal risks of social exclusion that retirees must manage in Northern Europe. We find that for many of these migrants, moving represents a way of managing economic risks in retirement, improving their financial situation and status. At the same time, however, it introduces new vulnerabilities. The latter are all the more visible when unexpected political changes occur, such as the recent decision that the UK would leave the European Union (Brexit).

Suggested Citation

  • Marion Repetti & Christopher Phillipson & Toni Calasanti, 2018. "Retirement Migration in Europe: A Choice for a Better Life?," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 23(4), pages 780-794, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socres:v:23:y:2018:i:4:p:780-794
    DOI: 10.1177/1360780418782243
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Matthew Hayes, 2015. "Moving South: The Economic Motives and Structural Context of North America's Emigrants in Cuenca, Ecuador," Mobilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 10(2), pages 267-284, April.
    2. Ingo Zasada & Susana Alves & Felix Claus Muller & Annette Piorr & Regine Berges & Simon Bell, 2010. "International retirement migration in the Alicante region, Spain: process, spatial pattern and environmental impacts," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 53(1), pages 125-141.
    3. Lisa Goodson & Aleksandra Grzymala-Kazlowska, 2017. "Researching Migration in a Superdiverse Society: Challenges, Methods, Concerns and Promises," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 22(1), pages 15-27, February.
    4. Raquel Huete & Alejandro Mantec�n & Jesús Est�vez, 2013. "Challenges in Lifestyle Migration Research: Reflections and Findings about the Spanish Crisis," Mobilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 8(3), pages 331-348, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Henkens, C.J.I.M. & Kalmijn, Matthijs & van Dalen, Hendrik Peter & Savas, Esma Betul & Spaan, Juul, 2022. "A Survey of Dutch Retirement Migrants Abroad: Codebook Version 1.0," Other publications TiSEM 0e808677-dd7d-4fd9-a8ac-b, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    2. Gianluca Egidi & Giovanni Quaranta & Luca Salvati & Filippo Gambella & Enrico Maria Mosconi & Antonio Giménez Morera & Andrea Colantoni, 2020. "Unraveling Causes and Consequences of International Retirement Migration to Coastal and Rural Areas in Mediterranean Europe," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-15, October.
    3. Esma Betül Savaş & Juul Spaan & Kène Henkens & Matthijs Kalmijn & Hendrik P. van Dalen, 2023. "Migrating to a new country in late life: A review of the literature on international retirement migration," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 48(9), pages 233-270.
    4. Savas, Esma Betul & Spaan, Juul & Henkens, Kène & Kalmijn, Matthijs & van Dalen, Hendrik Peter, 2023. "Migrating to a new country in late life: A review of the literature on international retirement migration," Other publications TiSEM 5d958f16-41db-4f8f-b0c3-d, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.

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