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Impact of Remittance Behaviour on Immigrant Homeownership Trajectories: An Analysis of the Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants in Canada from 2001 to 2005

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Abstract

Although homeownership is recognised as an important marker of immigrant integration in Canada, overall evidence suggests a declining trend in homeownership among immigrants in the last two decades. The factors scholars have focused on in their attempt to explain immigrant housing trajectories and overall homeownership trends tend to be dominated by immigrant characteristics and the circumstances prevailing in the housing market. This research extends this attempt at understanding immigrant housing trajectories by examining the influence of remittances. Using data from the longitudinal survey of immigrants in Canada we applied negative log–log regression modelling techniques to examine the influence of remittances on homeownership over time among recent immigrants in Canada. The results indicate that participation in remittance has negative consequences for homeownership over time. The findings make a case for the inclusion of immigrant transnational engagement in the attempt to explain immigrant integration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, SSC, Western University, London, ON, N6A 5C2, Canada

    Vincent Z. Kuuire, Godwin Arku, Isaac Luginaah & Michael Buzzelli

  2. Department of Sociology, SSC, Western University, London, ON, N6A 5C2, Canada

    Teresa Abada

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  1. Vincent Z. Kuuire
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  2. Godwin Arku
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Correspondence to Vincent Z. Kuuire.

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Kuuire, V.Z., Arku, G., Luginaah, I. et al. Impact of Remittance Behaviour on Immigrant Homeownership Trajectories: An Analysis of the Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants in Canada from 2001 to 2005. Soc Indic Res 127, 1135–1156 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11205-015-1011-9

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