2014年-世界发展银行全球_Migrants_Remittances_from_Italy___International_Remittances_and_Access_to_Financial_Services_for_migrants_in_Turin_Italy_62页_3mb

Summary of Migrants' Remittances from Italy

Core Content

This report, Greenback 2.0 - Torino, is a study conducted by the World Bank in partnership with the City of Turin and the research institutions FIERI and Laboratorio R. Revelli. It focuses on the financial behaviors and remittance patterns of migrants in Turin, particularly from the Moroccan, Peruvian, and Romanian communities, which are the largest in terms of remittances sent to their origin countries.

The study is part of the World Bank's "Project Greenback 2.0—Remittances Champion Cities," which aims to increase efficiency and transparency in the remittance market by addressing the real needs of migrants and their families. The research collected 480 in-depth interviews to analyze the financial inclusion and remittance practices of migrants in Turin, emphasizing their economic integration, savings behavior, and access to financial services.

Main Findings

Demographic and Economic Profiles

• Family Size: Moroccan migrants tend to have larger families both in Italy and their country of origin compared to Peruvians and Romanians.
• Length of Stay: Moroccans have the longest average stay in Italy, leading to higher family reunification rates.
• Income Differences: Romanians report the highest average monthly income, while Moroccans have the lowest. This is attributed to differences in job specialization and, for Romanians, the acquisition of EU citizenship in 2007.
• Occupation and Sectors:
  • Moroccan migrants are mainly employed in manufacturing and construction.
  • Peruvians and Romanians, especially women, are more likely to be in the care and domestic sector, which is more stable and better paid.
• Economic Integration: The economic crisis has significantly impacted the financial stability of migrant communities in Turin, with declining income and remittance flows.

Financial Behaviors

• Savings and Financial Inclusion:
  • A high proportion of migrants have bank accounts and use various financial products.
  • Savings are common, but the amount varies by country of origin and economic stability.
  • Microcredit is not widely used among migrants.
• Remittance Patterns:
  • Most remittances (83%) are sent in cash through money transfer operators (MTOs), with very few sent via bank accounts or cards.
  • Transaction costs are often misperceived, with migrants not fully understanding the cost composition, including exchange rate margins and fixed fees.
  • High-frequency remittances are associated with low-value transactions, increasing the relative weight of fixed costs.

Remittance Service Providers and Channels

• Channels Used: MTOs are the most common channel for sending remittances, followed by banks and postal services.
• Costs and Perceptions:
  • Actual transaction costs are higher than perceived ones.
  • Migrants are not well-informed about the cost structure of remittance services.
• Impact of Economic Crisis:
  • The economic downturn has affected remittance behaviors, with a notable decline in the amount sent since 2011.
  • Despite this, remittances have shown more resilience than income to economic shocks.

Key Information

Research Objectives

• To understand the financial needs and behaviors of migrants in Turin.
• To analyze remittance patterns, financial inclusion, and access to banking services.
• To highlight the impact of the economic crisis on remittance flows and migrant integration.
• To contribute to the development of a more competitive and transparent remittance market.

Methodology

• Sample Selection: The survey focused on three main migrant communities in Turin: Moroccan, Peruvian, and Romanian.
• Data Collection: 480 in-depth interviews were conducted between July and September 2013.
• Fieldwork: The research included training for interviewers, pilot studies, and a detailed sampling strategy.
• Analysis: Data was processed and analyzed to understand trends, behaviors, and service perceptions.

Trends and Changes

• Remittance Volume: Turin's remittance outflows declined significantly from 2011 to 2012.
• Recipient Trends: Remittances are primarily sent to family members, with a strong emphasis on supporting relatives in the origin country.
• Channel Preferences: MTOs are the dominant method of remittance, despite higher costs and less transparency.
• Financial Literacy: There is a need for greater financial awareness and literacy among migrants to make informed decisions about remittance services and financial products.

Conclusion

The study highlights the importance of remittances in supporting migrant families and their origin countries, especially in times of economic crisis. It underscores the need for more transparent and competitive remittance services, better financial education, and improved access to formal financial systems for migrants. The findings also suggest that while remittances are resilient to economic downturns, the overall financial well-being of migrant communities is still under threat. The research contributes to the broader discussion on migration, development, and financial inclusion, offering insights for policymakers and service providers to improve the remittance market.