The last few decades have seen an increase in the migration of ageing people from richer Northern and Western countries to poorer Southern and Eastern countries. This book seeks to understand the motivation behind retirement migration and how precarity in later life contributes to this trend.

Drawing on accounts of retirees from different nations, the book examines how welfare policies in their home country and their country of migration interact to shape their experiences of migration. It shows how ageism impacts social precarity across different social classes, and across economic, social and health dimensions. It also evaluates how local and global systems of inequalities influence retirement migrants’ experience, providing both opportunities and constraints that differ across countries.

"This is a sensitive and beautifully written study of how precarity intersects with both decisions to migrate and experiences of relocation later in life. It is a must-read for scholars in the field." Caroline Oliver, University College London

“Through clear and comprehensive research, compelling case studies and insightful analysis, the authors provide a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted nature of retirement migration and its implications for individual wellbeing and social structure.” Contemporary Sociology

Marion Repetti is Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Western Switzerland HES-SO Valais-Wallis.

Toni Calasanti is Professor of Sociology at Virginia Tech.