Migration, Inequality, and Remittances: Patterns of Romanian External Mobility

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between the international migration of Romanian citizens and associated remittance flows, conceptualizing migration as a socio-economic adaptation strategy in post-EU accession Romania. The analysis aims to identify dominant migratory patterns, assess the role of remittances in supporting household welfare, and evaluate the influence of social inequality in destination countries on migration flows. The methodology integrates a bibliometric review of the relevant literature with applied quantitative techniques, including descriptive statistics, cluster analysis, and polynomial regression. The empirical analysis relies on official data from the National Institute of Statistics, Eurostat, the World Bank, the National Bank of Romania, and the United Nations, covering the period 2012-2023.

The findings reveal a high concentration of Romanian migration toward a limited number of European destinations, particularly Germany, Italy, and Spain, alongside a systematic preference for countries characterized by lower levels of income inequality. Remittances constitute a significant source of external financing, contributing positively to household consumption and the reduction of poverty risk, while exhibiting a limited effect on productive investment. The main limitations of the study derive from the use of aggregated data and the absence of micro-level information on individual migrant behavior. Future research should extend the analysis to household-level data, return migration dynamics, and institutional mechanisms aimed at channeling remittances toward sustainable socio-economic development.