Migración Norte - Sur: inmigrantes jubilados estadounidenses y su proceso de inserción en Cuenca

Abstract

The present study analyzes the immigration of US retirees in Cuenca, Ecuador. It concerns a North-South migration process, contrary to what has traditionally been observed in the international context of migration during the last decades. The protagonists are US retirees who want to maximize their pensions by the low cost of life in Ecuador, enjoy their retirement and the excellent climate. The study focuses on the immigrants strategies of appropriation and configuration of the spaces that conform the city of Cuenca. It also describes the perception of the cuencanos about this group that is coming to live in the city. A mixed investigative approach was used; a quantitative descriptive method to analyze the perception of the cuencanos and in-depth interviews to analyze the forms of integration of the retirees.