General information
Title: Exploring Return Migration Dynamics in the Republic of Moldova: a Qualitative Analysis (Investigarea dinamicii migrației de întoarcere în Republica Moldova: o analiză calitativă)
Acronym: ReMiReM
Project code: PN-IV-P8-8.3-ROMD-2023-0173
Donor: Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding (Unitatea Executivă pentru Finanțarea Învățământului Superior, a Cercetării, Dezvoltării și Inovării, UEFISCDI), Romania
Budget: 477.500 RON
Time interval: 20.05.2024 - 19.05.2026
Summary
The Republic of Moldova’s massive emigration statistics and modest numbers in return migrants overshadows the fact that return migrants represent a valuable demographic and economic resource that contributes to the country's development -recognized by its administration - and that since economic betterment during the last two decades, returning has become a viable option formany migrants. Research on return migration is increasing, but with significant research gaps - namely, a general perspective opened on economic, psychological, social and political reasons, but no specific studies on the concrete determinants for Moldovan actual or potential returnees’ decision and success.
Therefore, the project aims to understand the determinants of Moldovan potential and actual returnees’ decision to migrate back to the country, both concerning its motives and practical feasability, and to offer recommendations to encourage and enhance their return. This will be done through qualitative fieldwork with Moldovan potential return migrants and their family members in Romania and Moldova as well as with key informants from relevant private and public stakeholders in Moldova.
Being hosted in a strong international research environment, the project provides the opportunity for Moldovan researchers to integrate into a global academic nexus, while junior ones may work with experienced scholars building valuable professional experience in the field of migration and return.
Project partners
1. Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania: Centre for the Study of Transnational Families (CASTLE)
Team:
Áron Telegdi-Csetri (Project Manager);
Viorela Telegdi-Csetri (Researcher);
Anatolie Coșciug (Researcher);
Mara Birou (Researcher)
2. Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova, Chișinău, Republic of Moldova
Team:
Dorin Vaculovsky (Partner Leader)
Popa Marina (Post-Doctoral Researcher)
Stela Morozan (PhD Student)
Raisa Dogaru (PhD Student)
Deliverables
2024
Preliminary research report: Moldova (in Romanian)
Executive summary 2024
2025
Publications
Journal article: Popa, M. (2025). Shifting patterns in global flows of trade, capital, migration and information. Global Economic Observer, 13(1), 51–62.
Journal article: Vaculovschi, D. (under evaluation). Return migration from the Republic of Moldova. Challenges, Solutions. Journal of Romanian Studies
Conference presentations
Panel: Voices of Families in Moldovan Return Migration, organised by the project team at the Triennial Conference of the Society for Romanian Studies, 29-31 May 2025, Cluj-Napoca (4 presentations by team members, see p.21)
Presentations of joined research at the 5th Isa World Forum of Sociology, 6-11 July 2025, Rabat (2 presentations) (presentation 1, presentation 2)
Session: Rethinking Return Migration in Moldova, organized by team members at the 5th RoMig International Conference, 31 October - 1 November 2025, Sibiu (5 presentations, see p.11)
Preliminary research report: Romania (in Romanian)
Executive summary 2025
Activities / Events
2024
Training course: Methods and techniques in the study of return migration
Round table in collaboration with the Romanian Centre for Comparative Migration Studies
2025
Panel: Voices of Families in Moldovan Return Migration, organised by the project team at the Triennial Conference of the Society for Romanian Studies, 29-31 May 2025, Cluj-Napoca
Project presented at the Joined work session organized by UEFISCDI and ANCD, 6-7 June, Chișinău
Presentation of joined research at the 5th Isa World Forum of Sociology, 6-11 July 2025, Rabat
Session: Rethinking Return Migration in Moldova, organized by team members at the 5th RoMig International Conference, 31 October - 1 November 2025, Sibiu
