1. The 4th International Conference on Population Geographies 12 July 2007, Hong Kong International marriage migration from rural Thailand to Germany Satoshi NAKAGAWA, Kobe University, Japan nakagawa@econ.kobe-u.ac.jp Sekson YONGVANIT, Khon Kaen University, Thailand sekyon@kku.ac.th

2. Background Thailand under the “migration transition” “Migration Transition” In terms of international migration, a migrants- sending country becomes migrants receiving country in accordance with economic development Thailand post “demographic transition” “Demographic Transition” from high fertility and mortality to low fertility and mortality by economic development / spread of family planning

3. North- eastern

4. Background Rural development of Northeastern Region regional economic disparity is still very large, i.e. gross provincial (76 provinces) product per capita in 2004, national average=100, maximum Rayong (703), minimum Non Bua Lamphu (16). What kind of possibilities for development? invite factories invite tourists go for work in Bangkok and surrounding provinces go for work abroad go for marriage abroad

5. Research Project: three years from 2006 “Migration and rural developments in the Northeastern Thailand and Laos” International labor migration from the NE Thailand to abroad (Sukanya) International labor migration from rural Laos to Thailand (***, Nakagawa) International marriage migration from the NE Thailand to Germany (Sekson, Nakagawa) Survey on families left behind in the NE Thailand Survey on Thai women married in Germany Questionnaire Survey, In-depth interview

6. Today’s Presentation Introduction of preliminary results of the questionnaire survey on the married Thai women in Germany Cross-border migration for marriage is a form of international migration, which has lately drawn considerable attention. The cases between males from “rich” countries and females from “poor” countries are particularly often observed and thereby international marriage migration is regarded not only as cross-border love romances but also as global economic issues.

7. Thailand is one of the most important sending countries of brides to wealthier countries. According to the previous reports, the Northeastern region known as the poorest region in Thailand is often pointed out as a major origin of the international brides and Germany followed by Great Britain and Japan is the most popular destination among them. Previous studies, Piper, Nicola and Roces, Mina eds, “Wife or Worker? -Asian women and migration”, Rowman & Littlefiled Publishers, 2003.

8. Questionnaire survey outline Respondents: married Thai women (+ men) living in Germany. found mainly at Thai temples, Thai grocery shops Place of interview: Berlin and South Germany Language: Thai Interviewer: two Thai and one Japanese males Duration: 9 February – 5 March, still on going Sample: 77

9. Samples Thai (%)Partner (%) Male1290 Female888 No data02 Thai: Average age 40, ranging 22 to 66 years old Partner: Average age 50, ranging 25 to 73 years old German Statistics: Thais in Germany Population(2005), 51108; male 7245, female 43863 (2001), 41520; male 6338, female 35182 Average age 35.5 (2006) Average duration of stay in Germany 9.5 years (2006)

10. ReligionThai (%)Partner (%) Christian050 Buddhist10018 Muslim00 Other013 No religion011 No data08 Religion

11. Education Thai (%)Partner (%) Primary School462 Secondary School2216 College2328 University412 higher117 other425

12. Married beforeThai (%)Partner (%) Yes4648 No5447 No data05 Were you married before the present Thai/German partner?

13. How many years have you been in Germany? How long (year)Number (%) 1-514 6-1019 11-1525 16-2031 21-258 26-301 31-352 Average 13 years Newest 1 year Longest 33 years

14. How many years have you been married with the present partner? How many years ?Number (%) 1-526 6-1028 11-1516 16-2021 21-258 26-300 31-351 Average 10 years Newest 1 year Longest 31 years

15. How often do you visit Thailand ? some times a year17 once a year39 every two years23 every three years12 other9 How long do you stay for your visit to Thailand?

16. What kind of problems do you have for your stay in Germany? No Problem60 % Problem40 % No Job No Money Language Very expensive Second class people Difference Culture

17. Which country is more difficult to live? Germany21 % Thailand41 % No difference28 % I do not know1 % No data9 % How do you evaluate your stay in Germany

18. Do you intend to return to Thailand in the future? If yes, why do you think so? Yes ----------------------- 62 % No ----------------------- 18 % I do not know, now ---- 20 % No, because Very happy in Germany No relative in Thailand In Germany has better social status No social insurance in Thailand Yes, because Want to stay with relative Thailand is my homeland My partner wants to live in Thailand Do not like German way of live Too cold in Germany

19. Reasons for your international marriage migration, multiple answers Reasons international marriage migration% had economic problems in Thailand33 % just wanted to go abroad31 % wanted to try my luck22 % disappointed by the partner in Thailand20 % recommended or informed by friends or relatives successful in abroad 16 % did not like the work in Thailand11 %

20. How much do you send annually to your family in EURO ? Send money to your family% Send money regularly65 Send money, but not regularly16 Do not send money19 All the money send per year 244,450 EURO Average 6,267 EURO / Year / person

21. How does your family in Thailand evaluate your stay in Germany? evaluate your stay in Germany % satisfied86 not satisfied7 Do not know7

22. Conclusions Victim or Agent? positive evaluation, rather agent than victim Wife or Worker? large amount of remittance, rather worker than wife Temporal or Permanent stay? strong intention for return Remarks strong cultural confidence, try to keep their way of living sampling bias and way of interviews

23. For the next steps connect these results with the survey being conducted on the family left behind in the NE Thailand, how their remittance is utilized how their family and neighbors evaluate them

24. at a Thai Food/Grocery Shop in Berlin

27. at a Thai Temple in Berlin