The turn of the 90s: continuities and fractures of Peruvian migration to Córdoba, Argentina Migration: emigrants, characteristics and fates. Eduardo Bologna Pablo Martin Gómez National University of Córdoba, Argentina. Conicet BSPS Annual Conference 2011

Motivations and Previous Studies  Regional migratory flows to Argentina have increased steadily in the last few decades (Benencia, 1997; Bologna, 2007). These movements relate to changes ranging from the pioneers´ tentative movements, to the increase of the potentially migrant population in the countries of origin. In this process, access to the job market is restricted to specific sectors, and the newly settled community facilitates the establishment of new arrivals: it provides information, strategies for economic insertion and help with accommodation  Increase in the 90's in the number of people born in Peru living in Argentina mainly due to exchange rate. During the 90's, the decade was the largest immigration increase, however, Argentina was characterized by high rates of urban unemployment, reaching a peak with the 2001 economic crisis. Migrants were also affected by precarious employment and unregistered work.  Peruvian studies in Argentina have previously been focused mainly on Buenos Aires. The main issues were: occupational trajectories and labour market integration (Cerruti & Maguid: 2006; Bruno: 2007).

Theoretical Considerations  New approaches in the field of migration studies that articulate agency and structure. Recognize both structure and agency. Migration not as an individual decision or determined by large structures.  Different authors agree that the household is the most appropriate unit of analysis: New Economics of Labor Migration (NELM) (Stark & Bloom, 1985; E. J. Taylor, 1999). The new economics of labor migration emerged as a critical response to neo-classical migration theory (Massey et al., 1993)  The Transnational Approach in the study of the settlement and integration of migrant communities in receiving countries (Glick Schiller, Basch, and Blanc-Szanton, 1991, Castles and Miller, 2009; Faist, 2004). This corresponded with a general paradigm shift in contemporary social theory, away from grand theories towards more pluralist, hybrid approaches, which simultaneously take into account agency and structure (De Haas, 2010).

Objetive  Analyze the break in the Peruvian process of migration into Córdoba city (Argentina). Specific Objectives  Analyze migration networks of members of the household.  Analyze employment trajectory of members of the household. Data and Methodology Source of data: secondary data of Argentina census, in-depth interview and primary data through snowball sampling. First phase: participant observation and in-depth interview with members of Peruvians association. At this stage we produced a short documentary (24 min.) Second phase: snowball sampling (with theoretical saturation).

 The distribution of Peruvians in Argentina shows a high concentration in Buenos Aires City and the state of Buenos Aires, followed in importance by Córdoba Increase of Peruvians in Argentina Source: Census 1980, 1991, 2001 However…

Distribution of Peruvians in Argentina according to Census 2001.

Peruvians: High Spatial Concentration in Alberdi neighborhood, Córdoba.

Peruvians in Córdoba, Argentina Source: Census 2001 Females58.3% Active82.5% Between 15 and %

Place of: BirthResidence 5 years agoCurrent Residence Type of migrant BAAEarlier BBARecent CBAMultiple ABAReturn AAANo Migration Considering the Classification of United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) according to time and birthplace. Both, internal migration and international migration.  In the preliminary analysis (with census data, 2001) the classification, as proposed by (ECLAC), was used.  In subsequent analysis the classification is redefined between earlier and more recent migrants.

Main results According to our fieldwork and in-depth interviews, there are two different kinds of Peruvians migration to Córdoba: 1)Previous migrants, arriving in Córdoba in the 60’s seeking education in the University. 2)Recent migrants, arriving in Córdoba in the 90’s, mainly seeking work due to the exchange rate between Peru and Argentina. According to this, we used the typology of ECLAC redefining the criteria and distinguishing between Migrants who arrived before and after 1995.

Main characteristics of the survey Arrival timeTotal %Male%Female % Total 100,0 (127) 100,0 (66) 100,0 (61) Until ,340,923,0 From ,759,177,0 Peruvians in Córdoba according to arrival time Source: Survey of Peruvian migrants in Córdoba Reasons for migrationsTotal %Male %Female %Earlier%Recent% Labor migration15,418,522,015,422,4 Unemployment9,34,620,37,714,1 Better employment in Córdoba11,713,917,012,816,5 Education20,432,320,353,914,1 Looking for better quality of life11,718,511,912,816,5 Family12,313,918,615,4516,5 Source: Survey of Peruvian migrants in Córdoba. 2009

Some difficulties in the field work: Problems in the interview of all household members due to high rates of activities. Problems in the interview of some person due to irregular migratory situation and labour status. Problems of hidden populations

Migration Networks Previous acquaintancesTotal %Male %Female %Earlier%Recent% Acquaintances 82,7 (105) 77,3 (51) 88,5 (54) 70,7 (29) 88,4 (76) Relatives51,172,068,556,775,7 Friends39,964,046,370,048,7 Type of helpTotal %Male%Female %Earlier%Recent% Accommodation39,678,781,492,674,6 Help to find work30,857,567,444,469,8 Source: Survey of Peruvian migrants in Córdoba.2009 Type of help Previous acquaintances

MaleFemaletotal % % % Total , , ,0 Professional18510,0331,32185,0 Technical22011,81154,63357,7 Operational ,11947, ,1 No qualification25913, , ,5 No information231,260,2290,7 Ignored qualification542,9331,3872,0 Qualification of job Source: census ActivitiesLast activiy in Peru First activity in Córdoba Current activity Total 100,0 (106) 100,0 (107) 100,0 (104) Domestic workers5,735,520,2 Construction workers1,918,717,3 Self employment/Employer5,72,819,2 Professional worker16,01,912,5 Clerks14,29,321,2 Housewife4,71,9 Student23,614,01,9 Unemployment1,93,72,9 Trade15,14,7- Agriculture, Livestock, Fishing9,40,9- Other1,96,52,9 Employment in Peru and Argentina Source: Survey of Peruvian migrants in Córdoba Employment trajectory

Earlier migrants Last activity in Peru First activity in Cordoba Latest activity in Cordoba Domestic workers0.0%28.9%10.5% Construction workers2.7%7.9%5.3% Self employment/Employer0.0%5.3%23.7% Professional worker18.9%0.0%18.4% Supermarket, Internet Café, Call Center8.1%2.6%34.2% Student45.9%34.2%2.6% Other activities24.3%21.1%5.3% Total100.0% Source: Survey of Peruvian migrants in Córdoba Recent migrants Last activity in Peru First activity in Cordoba Latest activity in Cordoba Domestic workers8.7%39.1%25.8% Construction workers1.4%24.6%24.2% Self employment/Employer8.7%1.4%16.7% Professional worker14.5%2.9%9.1% Supermarket, Internet Café, Call Center17.4%13.0%13.6% Student11.6%2.9%1.5% Other activities37.7%15.9%9.1% Total100.0%

Conclusions  The choice of ECLAC classification is helpful in allowing comparison between two kinds of groups and identifying different ways of incorporation into the host society.  The in-depth interviews show that the migration to Cordoba is associated with social mobility, economic or professional success. In the earlier migrants these were mainly people belonging to the middle class attracted by the university. In this case the migration is a way to improve or maintain the social position.  The group of recent migrants show a different dynamics similar to Bolivians in Argentina (Bologna, 2007). The main features here are the effect of social network and the incorporation in low-wage economic activities with low skill requirements. The path to upward mobility in the host society is unlikely.  We need more methodological work in order to resolve the problem with groups that are small relative to the general population, and for which no exhaustive list of population members is available. Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) is one of the possible solution to this.

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