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Geographical Proximity and Immigrant Labour in Agriculture: Albanian Immigrants in the Greek Countryside
Author(s) -
Labrianidis Lois,
Sykas Theodosis
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
sociologia ruralis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.005
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1467-9523
pISSN - 0038-0199
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9523.2009.00494.x
Subject(s) - immigration , rural area , agriculture , work (physics) , geography , demographic economics , economic growth , economic geography , economy , development economics , political science , economics , archaeology , mechanical engineering , engineering , law
We investigate the importance of geographical proximity between Greece and Albania for the migrating experience of Albanian immigrants who work in the Greek countryside. From the fieldwork research we conducted in the countryside of northern Greece we find that the geographical proximity between Greece and Albania (the fact that they are bordering countries) and the inherent seasonality of agricultural employment allow immigrants to make rapid and repeated moves between the two countries and also work on a seasonal basis on their family agricultural holdings for the few months when they return home. Hence, these features embody a range of employment options that give these immigrants the opportunity to work on both sides of the border, transferring resources and skills acquired in Greece to Albania. As a result, a considerable proportion of immigrants working in agriculture actually work in both countries, and their annual employment and attempts at upward economic mobility are geographically dispersed in the two countries.