Social, Political and Cultural Remittances: Implications for the Origin and Destination Countries (original) (raw)
Related papers
Migrant Remittances in South Asia (Palgrave Macmillan Book) with Introduction Chapter
Making decision in order to set off for international destinations is hardly independent of potential economic benefit that spawns in the form of remittances. The primary motivations for migration from developing countries are generally linked to economic opportunities overseas and sharing part of this newly acquired economic opportunity with family members remained behind (Skeldon, 1997; Faist, 2000; Oda, 2004; Piper 2007; de Haas, 2010b; Ullah, 2010; Sirkeci et al., 2012; Rajan, 2012; Adams et al., 2012). Remittance __ one of the direct outcomes of international migration __ is the most beneficial private transactions in the global economy. This often stems from relatively developed economies and goes to the migrant households located in the developing economies. The South Asian region draws nearly one-fourth of global remittance volume that contributes on average to over ten percent of GDP of South Asian countries. This remarkable amount and its potential for development to South Asia justify this volume. By focusing on the manners and means by which the South Asian migrant communities remit back to their countries and the implications of remittances for recipient families and communities, the chapters of this volume seek to contribute to expanding scholarship in the field of remittance. This volume advances research on migrant remittance in South Asia by shedding light on three key areas: (i) theoretical and conceptual developments, (ii) remittance transfers, and (iii) the implications of migrant remittances for development in South Asia. Some questions that this volume particularly attempts to address are as follows: What remittances exactly refer to? Is the understanding of remittances limited to the fact that transfers of money from migrants to their family members at home? What are the determinants of remittances? What are the channels used and in place to transfer remittances? Why do a considerable number of migrants resort to remit through informal channels in South Asia, despite risks involved? A central element in nearly all discussions of remittances is the question of what their impact is --socially, economically and politically. Are they simply used for consumption? Are they used for productive investment and, if so, how is productive investement perceived? What role does gender play in the remittance use? What is the role of remittances in the SME development in South Asia? How are remittances of deceased migrant recovered and made available to their family members in South Asia? How do remittances affect fertility behavior in South Asia? Who are the family members who receive them, and what are their expectations and how different are the migrants’ expectations from the users)? These questions weave through the chapters of this volume.
Handbook of the International Political Economy of Migration, edited by Leila Simona Talani and Simon McMahon, pp. 234-258
INTRODUCTION The growing pace of globalization, accompanied by major transformations in countries of origin and significant economic changes in the industrialized countries, has resulted in ever-growing migratory dynamics around the world. Migration is a global phenomenon which touches every country in the world as sending, transit or receiving countries. Remittances represent one of the most consistent outcomes of migration. Through remittances, migrants transfer funds, information, ideas and practices. Remittances link societies of origin and destination by multiple processes of mobility and exchange. Migrant remittances are transfers that are conducted by migrants between countries of origin and destination, consisting of monetary and non-monetary transfers. Monetary transfers are primarily financial in nature, although they can include in-kind transfers; non-monetary flows are primarily social remittances which include ideas, values and modes of action. Whereas capital flows are transfers of money within corporations for the purpose of investment and research and development, remittances are flows of money between a migrant and their family or community in the origin country. Migrant remittances represent migrants’ continuous involvements in their places and communities of origin. Different from capital flows and foreign direct investment (FDI), which are usually sent formally, financial remittances may be transferred by using both formal and informal channels. In some cases, informal transfers account for a large part of financial remittances. Remittances are valuable resources for the economy of many developing countries and are often higher than the levels of foreign investment, in a number of cases representing a substantial portion of the gross domestic product (GDP). They have therefore a high political relevance, as the level of remittances is several times higher than the level of overseas development aid (ODA) provided by developed to developing countries. Remittances and migrants thus became major players in the relationships between developed and developing countries. The research on remittances is a hugely debated topic today, with contributions coming from around the world. This chapter mainly focuses on findings from former socialist countries that have experienced international migration mostly in the past 25 years. It first assesses the importance of financial remittances today, representing one of the main avenues of capital flows towards poorer countries. It follows with the analysis of the use and impact of financial remittances: use by households and its effects on poverty and inequality, and on individual occupational choices. At the macro level also, debates evolve around the positive or negative role of financial remittances1 on growth and country competitiveness. The chapter then analyses the types and the effects of social remittances. It discusses the new ideas that migrants transfer to communities of origin, such as notions of wealth and consumption, the practices associated with business and management that they import back home, and the social norms associated with gender relations. Here we use examples from different case studies around the world. The chapter thus discusses the main debates surrounding the financial and social remittances.
Blaming the vicious trap of existing unemployment gap, youths-the power-house for nation's development-, into an excessively large number, are departing to foreign countries irrespective of gender, age, location, religion and other traits. Each of those expatriating mass exhibits identically consolidated anxiety and agony that sensing no future in county they felt bound to move. Such sordid elaboration indicates that prosperity of nation is mutilated, vulnerable and irreparable too. Thus, flying to foreign land seems to be an only granted option for many. Though such flight of human resource is a transitory sangfroid for them, has that been really useful for the nation in any other mission? What are they incurring as the irreparable cost of migration and what the inexplicable scourges or brunt of remittance are they and the whole nation is bearing? These issues still need a serious study. Though many people assertively exaggerate the gains of remittance, it has taken miles on giving us an inch. Remittance has more grotesque pains over little gains thus has turned seemingly suicidal, retrogressive or as only a pyrrhic victory for the nation. This paper, taking reference of various countries with special consideration to Nepal, underscores to infer an argument that remittance has been being less appealing and more appalling to all the receiving countries; and Nepal undoubtedly doesn't manifest an exception over this mainstream identity. Methodologies and Research Design: Taking the qualitative nature of study in the account, this research adopts the paradigm of interpretation as key method of analysis. This shall be purely a doctrinal and an archival research, which burrows all the information and data-needed in course of justifying the proposition projected on-from various secondary sources. Diving it closely to match the only after design of experimental research, this study picks only the post-observation views and opinions of different scholars on the subject to escort and fortify the argument. Nonetheless, this research will be largely an explanatory research. Hypothesis: This research conjectures that remittance doesn't bequeath any significantly contributory role to ensure the development of nation; rather it is grossly unproductive, largely decaying and hugely counterproductive bequest of destructive agent for pace and path of prosperity in remitted nations. Literature Review Besides having the similar praxis around the globe, the World War I initiated the trend of foreign employment in Nepal. Subsequently, being clerk and working into various tea plants
South Asian Migration: Remittances and Beyond
International Migration is a dynamic global phenomenon that has been drawing increasing attention from both scholars and policymakers over the last few decades. It is particularly relevant to South Asia, since the region is a vast source of 'sojourner' migrant labour as well as home to permanent immigrant and diaspora communities. The chapters brought together in this volume provide insights into the study of international migration, diaspora engagement and remittances in South Asia. In particular, they analyse the implications of this phenomenon in relation to development and shed light on migration- and diaspora-led development in two sections: firstly, "Remittance-Induced Development" and secondly "Diaspora-Induced Development." The geographic focus of the volume is the global South Asian emigrant population who live outside the region. This volume demonstrates that international migration, remittances and development offer an exciting field of academic study, as well as a vibrant area of policy study. Its multi-disciplinary dimensions enlarge its scope and applicability across several domains. As such, this volume offers an important contribution to the growing field of international migration in both the academic and policy spheres."
Conclusion: A Transformative Perspective on Remittances—Towards the Future of Transnational Society
Springer eBooks, 2022
Remittances are often told as a success story and, in general, remittance research contributes to this exuberant representation of transnational transactions. There is, of course, another side to this story and remittance research also addresses the human costs of remitting and the challenges it poses to personal relationships (e.g. Åkesson 2011; Carling 2014; Erdal 2014; Lindley 2010; Rahman and Fee 2012). However, embedded in the field of policy making and remittances economies, the consistency and uniformity in the master narrative of successful development are not surprising. Agencies like the World Bank and Western Union do not tire in promoting the universal account of development through remittances, and like most powerful narrators, they are not wrong to stress the positive effects of the enormous amounts of money that support and advance struggling regions and neglected areas. Worldwide, the sum of private
Remittances and International Development
2020
This book aims to treat remittances as an act of social norm involving individuals, nation-states, and diaspora communities. It treats remittances both as an act of individual obligation as well as a social fact that needs to be understood from the perspective of the actors, i.e., the givers and recipients. Using theories of motives of giving, policy analysis, international development, and international relations, the authors offer a compelling narrative of how and why remittances occur and the impacts on both the giver and recipient. The authors-both scholars of philanthropy and remittances-bring their shared perspective and understanding of this crucial phenomenon and delve deep into examining its impacts on community development and the relations between the nation-states. This book offers a sophisticated understanding of how vital remittances are to the world we live in. The book sheds light on this important social reality and will be of value to researchers, academics, and students interested in remittances, as well as to practitioners working in the international development sector, NGO actors, and policy makers.
The Value of Social Remittances: More Than Money
The Value of Social Remittances: More Than Money, 2017
This paper elaborates on the concepts of social remittances and globalization and furthermore tries to understand the mutual relationship between these concepts, in order to determine to what extent social remittances can have an influence on development of people and places. People around the world are getting increasingly interconnected due to modern communication and transport technologies. Migration has become more common and staying in touch with left-behind friends and family has become easier. Subsequently, the exchange of ideas, lifestyles and knowledge between people-social remittances-has become easier and more established. Multi-directional exchanges between people can be minor, but can also take place on a greater scale and be part of collective flows of remittances. We argue that these social remittances for both migrants and non-migrants can act as potential tool and/or barrier to bring about development. Present study therefore aims to obtain insight into the interrelation between the concepts of social remittances, development and globalization.