Happier abroad? Insights into the wellbeing of Romanian emigrants

Wellbeing is a multidimensional concept addressed across psychology,sociology, political science, and economics. From an economic perspective, it istypically linked to income, poverty, access to basic needs, and employment. Thispaper investigates whether Romanian emigrants working in EU countries perceivean improvement in their wellbeing after migration, particularly regarding wages andsocial status, compared to their situation in Romania prior to emigration. It alsoexamines whether perceptions differ across socio-demographic groups defined byage, gender, education, marital status, medium of origin, and country of destination.This paper is based on quantitative methods, using data from a structuredquestionnaire completed by 100 Romanian emigrants who currently live abroad orhave returned from migration. By exploring the relationship between migration andperceived wellbeing, the paper contributes to a broader understanding of howeconomic and social conditions abroad shape individual experiences. It adds to bothmigration research and wellbeing studies, highlighting the role of subjective andobjective factors in shaping quality of life. The findings provide useful insights foracademic debates and policy discussions on the integration and wellbeing of mobileworkers in the European Union.