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Abstract

On the basis of findings from a sample of Albanian migrants who have returned to their country of origin from Greece and Italy, we highlight that Greece attracts less skilled and less well off categories of migrants compared to Italy. However, the integration patterns tell a different story. In spite of the fact that Greece does not represent the first choice of Albanians seeking to migrate, and although those who go to Greece are not among the most qualified, nevertheless, they tend to adjust better to their host society and labour market. Furthermore, returning migrants from Greece seem to be better equipped and more likely to utilize the skills and knowledge acquired through migration compared to those returning from Italy.

Résumé

En s'appuyant sur les résultats d'une étude portant sur un échantillon de migrants albaniens qui sont retournés dans leur pays d'origine après un séjour en Grèce ou en Italie, nous concluons que les immigrants qui sont attirés vers la Grèce sont moins qualifiés et moins fortunés que ceux qui vont en l'Italie. Par contre, les modèles d'intégration révèlent un autre scénario. Bien que la Grèce ne représente pas le premier choix des Albaniens voulant immigrer, et quoique ceux qui se rendent en Grèce ne comptent pas parmi les plus qualifiés, ils ont tendance à mieux s'adapter à la société d'accueil et au marché de travail que ceux en Italie. De plus, les Albaniens qui retournent, en Albanie après avoir séjourné en Grèce semblent être mieux équipés et plus aptes à profiter des habiletés et des connaissances acquises à l'étranger que ceux qui y retournent après un séjour en Italie.

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Labrianidis, L., Lyberaki, A. Back and forth and in between: returning albanian migrants from Greece and Italy. Int. Migration & Integration 5, 77–106 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-004-1003-0

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