Migrant remittances
Introduction
The movement of people across and within borders has characterised the development of most global regions, resulting in a rich intermingling of cultures. Such movement is often motivated by the desire for a better life, whether this entails finding new land to cultivate or money making opportunities. In recent years, the process of movement has itself been simplified, opportunities for work in services and industry have boomed and globally, numbers of migrants have increased dramatically . In response, an increasing number of studies are emphasising the impacts of migration, particularly for developing countries, in the form of remittances - money sent by migrant workers back to communities and households.
This key issues page looks at some of these perceived impacts, and provides recommendations for further reading on the subject of migration and remittances.
- Feature: Economic implications of migration and remittances
- World Bank report exploring the gains and losses from international migration from the perspective of developing countries, with special attention to the money that migrants send home. The report also considers policy initiatives that could improve the developmental impact of migration, with particular attention to remittances.
Remittance impacts at country level
Remittances have been lauded for their potential to have impacts at the national economic level, with the potential to influence poverty reduction. The capacity of remittances to offset negative impacts of crises such as war or natural disasters has also been highighted. At the same time concerns are being raised that governments should not become too complacent about the role of migrant remittances and about possible negative effects, such as brain drain. More...
Women migrants and remittances
95 million migrants are women, constituting at least half those seeking to benefit from labour opportunities abroad. The ‘feminisation of migration’ has prompted many studies on the role of remittances in boosting household economies. More...
Sending money home
A point that is often overlooked in discussions of migrant remittances is the process of transferring money across continents. The little available research on this issue notes that migrants often lack information on the most efficient, cost-effective ways to make these transfers. More...
