Congolese migrants' economic trajectories in Europe and after return

This chapter describes Congolese migrants’ occupational trajectories during their stay in Europe and after their return to DR Congo, as well as their economic contributions to their home country during their stay in Europe. Congolese migrants fare poorly on the labour market in Europe. Employment rates are low, and migrants with a job are much more likely to be in low-skilled jobs when they are living in Europe than when living in DR Congo. Better-educated migrants perform better, but a significant proportion of them are also employed below their level of qualification. Despite their difficulties in integrating into the labour market, a large share of Congolese migrants send money back home. In the Congolese context, where economic conditions have seriously deteriorated since the 1990s, remittances from migrants are an important way of helping families staying in DR Congo. In contrast, investments and contributions to the non-profit sector are limited, perhaps because of DR Congo's risky economic environment

Cross-Cultural Differences in a Global “Survey of World Views”

10.1177/0022022114551791We know that there are cross-cultural differences in psychological variables, such as individualism/collectivism. But it has not been clear which of these variables show relatively the greatest differences. The Survey of World Views project operated from the premise that such issues are best addressed in a diverse sampling of countries representing a majority of the world¿s population, with a very large range of item-content. Data were collected online from 8,883 individuals (almost entirely college students based on local publicizing efforts) in 33 countries that constitute more than two third of the world¿s population, using items drawn from measures of nearly 50 variables. This report focuses on the broadest patterns evident in item data. The largest differences were not in those contents most frequently emphasized in cross-cultural psychology (e.g., values, social axioms, cultural tightness), but instead in contents involving religion, regularity-norm behaviors, family roles and living arrangements, and ethnonationalism. Content not often studied cross-culturally (e.g., materialism, Machiavellianism, isms dimensions, moral foundations) demonstrated moderate-magnitude differences. Further studies are needed to refine such conclusions, but indications are that cross-cultural psychology may benefit from casting a wider net in terms of the psychological variables of focus