Social Protection of Ecuadorian Immigrants in the United States and Spain

Abstract

Research on access to social protection for Ecuadorian immigrants is scarce. It remains unclear what social protection they receive and whether this is associated with their sociodemographic profile. This study used the LAMP-ECU4 surveys, with representatives from four communities in southern Ecuador, to conduct a quantitative analysis of the access to social protection of Ecuadorian immigrants in the United States, and Spain in the categories of employment, housing, and money lending, and the relationship between the latter and their sociodemographic profiles. The results showed that Ecuadorian migrants from the four communities had high levels of access to social protection in all three categories. The main source of support was individual ties, and a relationship was found between social protection and the sociodemographic profiles of immigrants. This study provides input for public policy design.