Migration for whose benefit? Pakistani and Indian migrant communities’ remittance sending behaviour and integration in Finland and Sweden

Application summary

The present study undertakes a comparative examination of the migration dynamics, remittance behaviours, and integration experiences of Pakistani and Indian student migrants within the contexts of Finland and Sweden. This investigation spans both the pre-pandemic and post-pandemic periods, while also considering the impact of the Russian war. The research is grounded in a comprehensive 10-year-long ethnographic inquiry, which has been complemented by a series of interviews conducted prior to and following the pandemic, as well as informal dialogues held with Pakistani and Indian students. These interactions were conducted in various languages, including Urdu, Hindi, English, or Punjabi, in accordance with the preferences of the respondents. The geographical scope of this study encompasses Helsinki and Turku in Finland, as well as Stockholm and Gothenburg in Sweden. It is important to note that the existing body of literature on international student migration is notably deficient in its examination of remittance-related aspects. Moreover, there is a dearth of information pertaining to specific demographic groups and geographical locales, with many of these areas having received minimal or no scholarly attention. Despite not being among the countries with the highest numbers of international students globally, the significance of foreign students within the broader student populations of Finland and Sweden underscores the importance of investigating these countries more thoroughly. As of 2017, Finland and Sweden held respective rankings of 18th and 22nd in terms of the sheer number of international students they hosted.