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Some demographic characteristics of long-term commuting in Hungary
3-19Views:78The study aims to show the most important demographic characteristics of long-term
commuting workers and the emerging territorial disparities using the latest available statistics.
The main motivation for commuting, including long commuting, is still to get the job they deem
appropriate, but about a quarter of a million people take on much greater burdens than average
and only travel home weekly or less frequently in Hungary. Most of them make this decision by
force, as there are no job opportunities in their place of residence, but the income they provide is
very important for their families. Long-term commuters mostly do seasonal work (construction,
catering, etc.) and work in physical jobs. Unsurprisingly, men are more likely to take on the life
form with increased physical and psychological strain, but not only the heads of the family in
their forties, but also young people in their 20s who are not yet independent of their families
are represented in large numbers. Long commuting is characterised by marked territorial
inequalities, and those affected mainly start from villages, despite the fact that the high level of public employment in the most disadvantaged areas is affecting the direction of the stay of the
workforce. -
’If a worker’s hostel – let it be good’: The status of worker’s hostels in state and corporate social policy in Szabolcs-Szatmár county in the 1970s
43-61Views:76The presentation of the commuter’s ’second home’ is inevitable in connection with the research of commuting as one of the most defining social phenomena of the Kádár era. This is particularly justified in Szabolcs-Szatmár county, which area was closely connencted to the phenomenon of short-distance commuting. One of the main goals of the intertwining state and corporate social policy implemented in the era, especially from the first half of the 1960’s, was undoubtedly to ensure satisfactory living conditions and cultural services provided by workers’ hostels. While from the beginning of the 1970’s, the county’s political leadership, one of the companies employing the most commuters, the Szabolcs County State Construction Company, prioritized the matter of workers’ hostels, which had been operated since the beginning of the fifties, from the end of the sixties. The company’s efforts were mainly shown in connection with the creation of suitable hygienic conditions and the provision of cultural opportunities. However, despite the significant financial outlay, a lasting result was not achieved, as a result of which the corporate goals set in previous decades were also prioritized in the 1980’s.
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„He only knows about everything, but does not experience anything!” – deciding on weekly commuting in terms of educational qualifications
20-37Views:41This paper presents the group of domestic commuters who can only go home and meet their
families – in the best case – once a week. It is based on a survey conducted in 2019 in which
24 commuters together with their family members at home were interviewed about why they
had decided on working far away from home. Looking for similar and different characteristic
features, we have analyzed the interviews in terms of the respondents’ educational qualifications.
Our results prove undoubtedly that the lower qualifications the respondents have, the fewer
job options they will have; moreover, they are also in vulnerable position concerning getting
accommodation, spending free time or finding suitable means of transport to go home. -
Alone together? Shared space, time, and solidarity in commuter relationships
72-87Views:50Long-distance relationships have always existed, however, as a result of globalization, modern
communication technology, as well as widespread travel opportunities, their number has
increased. This study focuses on commuter relationships, that is, those couples that only see
each other during the weekend or in every few weeks due to working far from their home. 24
interviews were conducted with commuter couples in small towns and villages. A key research
question involved satisfaction levels among interviewees. Dissatisfaction with their relationship
was relatively rare, except some women complained about increased household tasks. Daily
communication and modern communication technology had an immense role in boosting
satisfaction levels. Technology has also contributed to the creation of shared space and time
among commuter couples. Regular communication, special dates, and shared plans for the
future also raised relationship solidarity. To survive time apart and make time spent together
more special timework was used, which was done together for the purpose of influencing the
subconscious and subjective sense of time. -
„We were born here, we grew up here, our relatives and our children are here… everything are in our village”. Weekly commuting in a village of Tiszahát
38-53Views:41The study present the weekly commuting in a small village of 1600 resident in Tiszahát. The
economic situation of the settlement, employment and income opportunities are lower than
national average, which also has an extremely strong impact on the livability of the village.
The local primary labor market can employ few workers, other employees can work in public
employment or they can work as a seasonal worker in agriculture buti it does not provide an
income that can be calculated all year. There are few opportunities in the region, so they can
not work in the nearby settlements. Many locals have to go to remote settlement for work. We
prepared interviews to examine: how weekly commuting became popular in the village and how
it affected local families and the local community.
