Sustaining Connections: Transnational Household Financial Management by Overseas Filipino Workers in Hungary = Kapcsolatok fenntartása: Transznacionális háztartási pénzgazdálkodás a tengerentúli filippínó munkavállalóknál Magyarországon

Absztrakt (kivonat)

Remittances to the home country aren’t solely influenced by a favorable economic environment and market-driven indicators, they’re also shaped by a complex web of connections, emotions, traditions, culture, negotiations, and ongoing obstacles faced by migrants. Beyond mere economic transactions, remittances serve as vital threads sustaining bonds in the home country and platform for discussions and expectations. When assessing the developmental potential of remittances, it is critical to consider the micro and familial contexts of financial management. Rather than viewing families solely as market-driven investments, understanding how transnational families uphold ties of relatedness to their hometown is paramount. The family life’s multifaceted nature intertwines economic issues with dynamics and relationships. This study contends that comprehending migrants’ management of remittances stems from various institutional and social interactions. Through exploring these non-economic aspects, the research aims to showcase how migrants navigate household finances across borders. In-depth interviews were conducted with 16 Filipino migrant workers in Hungary, spanning Budapest, Debrecen, Nyíregyháza, Gödöllő, Hajdúszoboszló, Nógrád, and Szombathely, to delve into their emotions and experiences. The interviews were supplemented by distributing doodling exercise sheets to research participants, aiming to unearth meanings and interpretations of financial management. The research illustrates how overseas migration unveils a transnational approach to financial management. Migrants and their families negotiate and perpetuate their relationships and roles as active family economic agents in various transnational contexts. Family dynamics significantly influence household financial management, with migrants often fostering trust in budgeting through regular online communication with family members back home. Ultimately, the study contributes to our understanding of how overseas workers navigate economic practices amidst challenges like family constraints and new cultural contexts. It transcends deterministic and economic interpretations of remittances, which many studies rely on for financial literacy.