Carrio, E. (2023). Transpersonal effects of self-initiated expatriation on retirees [Unpublished Master’s thesis]. Alef Trust & Liverpool John Moores University.

According to a new research report published by Finaccord, the total number of expatriates worldwide amounted to around 66.2 million in 2017. This figure has grown at a compound annual rate of 5.8% since 2013. By 2021, Finaccord forecasted that the number will reach around 87.5 million. Among them, retirees account for 5.2 %, roughly 4.6 million in 2021. However, if academic research on forced immigration or expatriated workers is extensive, very little literature exists on people who chose to live abroad when retired as perhaps engaging with death and old age is a taboo subject in Western societies. Thus the present research may contribute to the understanding of this phenomenon as a new class of citizens is emerging, symbolized by the archetypes of the Old Sage and the Traveller, transnational, promoting multiculturalism and looking for novelty and freedom. Using organic inquiry as a research method, the dynamics behind the decision of moving abroad are explored as well as the transformative process experienced not only by the expatriated retirees but also by the host and the home countries. The psychological and spiritual consequences are scrutinised through a transpersonal lens, i.e., focusing on the transformation of the self, the unfolding of a new identity, and the emergence of a different level of consciousness. Three main themes emerged from this research: (a) the multidimensionality of the causes of the departure ; (b) the transformational and challenging dimension of the journey making the return to the home country impossible and (c) the impact of multiculturalism and transnationality.