Starting Over Again? Crisis, Gender, and Social Reproduction among Ecuadorian Migrants in Spain

Abstract

This contribution examines the dynamics of Ecuadorian international migration in the context of the global financial crisis that began in 2008. Ecuadorian migration has increased steadily over the past fifteen years – as have remittances, the rate of family reunification in destination countries, and migrants’ ownership of assets in both their countries of origin and destination. The current global crisis has affected these dynamics, particularly in Spain, which is one of the main destination countries for Ecuadorian migrants. A preliminary analysis of the impact of the crisis reveals an important decline in immigrant employment, but one that has not translated into a proportional decrease in remittances. Drawing on fieldwork in Spain and Ecuador, this study examines the strategies migrant families employed to cope with the financial crisis.