Migration, Remittances and Development Research Papers (original) (raw)

Most research on international climate finance and the private sector has focused on tracking the private sector’s contribution the ‘100 billion USD goal’ within the UNFCCC context. In recent years, it has become evident that the range of actual and potential contributions of private actors from developed countries to support developing countries is far broader than ‘publicly mobilized’ private climate finance. The research presented here takes a north-south scope focusing on Belgium. In this study, after a brief theoretical framework, we offer qualitative data from interviews assessing the involvement of Belgian-based private entities in climate-relevant activities in developing countries. With an actors-based perspective we first observed some perceived opportunities, and several barriers, such as particular finance access issues for small project developers. Then we found that in both mitigation and adaptation a wide range of private actors in Belgium – from households to small and large companies through the financial sector - already contribute with varying degrees to International Private Climate Finance (IPCF) in different sectors. Hence, they participate to address climate-related investment needs in developing countries.

-L'impact des transferts de fonds des migrants sur le taux de change effectif réel TCER est analysé pour un panel de trois pays du Maghreb, la Tunisie, le Maroc et l'Algérie, entre 1980 et 2015, à l'aide de la méthode des moindres carrés généralisés estimés réalisables (MCGE ou FGLS, « feasible generalized least squares ») qui permet d'obtenir des estimations cohérentes et efficaces et de réduire le biais. Les résultats montrent, contrairement à ce qui est constaté pour les pays d'Amérique latine, que l'afflux des transferts de fonds entraîne non pas une appréciation mais une très légère dépréciation du TCER à long terme. Ce taux de change effectif réel d'équilibre, estimé sur la base de ses fondamentaux macroéconomiques, permet de calculer son mésalignement avec le TCER observé. En période de surévaluation, les transferts de migrants ont tendance à réduire ce mésalignement. En effet, les monnaies sont moins surévaluées lorsque les transferts sont pris en compte. En période de sous-évaluation, comme c'est le cas plus récemment, les transferts ont tendance à accentuer légèrement cet effet, notamment dans le cas tunisien et à un moindre degré dans le cas algérien. En conséquence, les transferts par leur impact sur le taux de change n'ont pas d'incidence négative sur la compétitivité prix des trois pays du Maghreb. L'usage des transferts par les familles récipiendaires, les caractéristiques contracycliques des transferts des migrants, le rôle du secteur financier et la politique de change menée réduisent le risque de surévaluation du change, et le « syndrome hollandais » qui en découlerait.

- by Joel Oudinet and +2
- •
- International Migration, Remittances, Migration, Remittances and Development, Real Effective Exchange Rates

This article offers two readings of The Great Masters of Mexican Folk Art, a traveling exhibition of the Fomento Cultural Banamex, AC's folk art collection that coincided with Citigroup's buyout of Banamex, Mexico's second largest bank. The first, a political economic critique situates the exhibition within neoliberal economic reform of the Mexican banking system and the designs of US-based transnational banks on migrant remittances. The second, a material culture approach, focuses on the exhibitionary strategies employed to incentivize folk art consumption as a mode of cosmopolitan citizenship.

The hundreds of houses built in their home villages by people who had migrated from Zhongshan County, China, to Australia between the mid-nineteenth century and the 1940s represent a remarkable record of transnational flows. Beginning as enlarged versions of vernacular houses, by the 1920s many of the houses were being built in a neoclassical style based on reinforced concrete frames. It is argued here that these houses drew inspiration not from Australia as a country but from a colonial architectural milieu in which Australia participated. The relation of the Zhongshan houses to Australian architecture was to a large degree one of simultaneity rather than a unilinear flow of influence. It is proposed that the houses represent a transnationally “distributed” form of heritage that provokes a rethinking of the conventional approach to migrant heritage in places like Australia where a unilinear, one-way narrative of migration has been imposed, a narrative which disregards the ongoing history of transnational mobility and belonging that is common to many or most peoples’ experience of migration.

This study aimed to test the impact of brain drain
phenomenon on the economic growth of Egypt during the
period (2009 – 3013). At first, the study presented some of the
past views and results in this field and the evolution of labor
migration, then analyzing the migration structure and
characteristics.
Brain Drain has positive impact on the country such as the
remittances and the high income abroad, but it also has some
negative effects like the loss of high-skilled human capital,
potential tax revenues and the loss of potential development due
to research abilities of this human capital.
Testing the impact of brain drain using OLS simple
regression stated the positive impact of brain drain on the
economic growth of Egypt during the period (2009 – 2013) but
that impact is insignificant. So the country needs policies and
new strategies to benefit from this impact.

- by Toka Adel
- •
- Economic Growth, Migration Studies, Economics of Remittances, Human Resources

The aim of the paper is to highlight the variables that determine the propensity to receive remittances and the amount of remittances by households in rural Bangladesh. The empirical model incorporated the determinants of remittances in terms of observed migrant and household characteristics that are assumed to capture the underlying motives of remitting suggested by existing theories of remittances. This paper explores the motives that account for the receipt of remittances across rural households in Bangladesh who have migrants in Italy. Unlike most of the existing literature, the research question from the perspective of the recipient household and use it to interpret the determinants/motivations of remittances. The results show that a combination of household and migrant characteristics and some community level variables are the key elements in explaining the remittance behaviour in Bangladesh. Drawing from these estimates, this study conclude that altruism investment and kinship are the three main motives behind remittance flows to Bangladesh and both community variables (NELM and presence of networks in the host country) are strong determinants of the likelihood of receiving remittances by households.

- by Dr Kazi Abdul Mannan
- •
- Motivation (Psychology), Migration, Irregular Migration, Labor Migration
- by Md Mizanur Rahman
- •
- Migration, Migration Studies, Economics of Remittances, Remittances
- by Milly Sil
- •
- Development Economics, Labor Economics, Migration Studies, Remittances

En el texto se presenta una síntesis del debate sobre el significado económico de las remesas, y se propone un esquema de análisis macroeconómico que nos permita identificar y dimensionar los diferentes ámbitos de impacto de las remesas en la dinámica económica de los países perceptores. En este sentido, entendemos que hay distintos tipos de remesas. Así por ejemplo, podemos diferenciar las remesas familiares de las remesas productivas. Las primeras se orientarían más a financiar el consumo y gasto de los hogares, mientras las segundas se orientarían a financiar la inversión productiva. Evidentemente, el impacto de una y otra forma de remesa es muy diferente, tanto cuantitativa como cualitativamente.

Since 1970s, Somali people have migrated to several countries because of prolonged civil war, drought, famine and economic crisis. Among other reasons, on the basis of Turkey's development assistance to Somali and developing bilateral relations have accelerated the migration of Somalis to Turkey. This research tries to present a reliable and a narrow section of the picture in which mostly young members of this diaspora. My basic aim is to highlight and explain the underlying causes of their migration to Turkey and their permanent accommodation. By doing this, this research have tested and benefited from the explanatory power of Social Network Theory with regards to perpetuation of Somalis in Turkey. Hence, the primary aim is to collocate and map an overview of the socio-economic status of the Somali diaspora in Turkey. Lastly, by creating a basis for discussion on the Somali diaspora, article also suggests recommendations to different stakeholders in dealing with Somali diaspora in Turkey.

This second chapter of Nations Unbound sets out the key theoretical premises that initiated the transnational framework for the study of migration. The framework (1) situated the concept and the migration pattern within a particular moment in the restructuring of capital; (2) offered a concept of transnational social field to explain how migrants reacted and reconstituted that moment by building social, political, familial, and economic networks across borders (3) critiqued bounded categories of social science that conflate territory, territory and identity ; and (4) highlight the ways in which transmigrants as they live their lives across borders engage in the nation-state building processes of two or more nation-states, simultaneously reinforcing and contesting categories of race, ethnicity, gender, and class. Many subsequent scholars of transnational migration including Thomas Faist, Peter Koivisto, and Alejandro Portes seem to have overlooked this chapter or failed to cite it.

- by Nina Glick Schiller and +1
- •
- Globalization, Transnationalism, Diasporas, Race and Ethnicity
- by Johan Wets
- •
- Migration, Migration, Remittances and Development

The discussion paper provides a comprehensive picture of internal and International Migration in South Asia and tries to establish interlinkages between these two process

La migración mundial y regional es un fenómeno de millones de individuos en el cual todos y todas merecen la reivindicación como sujetos de derechos, pero Estados, economías y relaciones de poder representan capas que afectan de igual forma a los que migran, como a las personas que se quedan. El derecho humano individual del migrante por lo tanto no puede ser la única respuesta al fenómeno de la migración. De igual manera se tiene que trabajar en las causas de la migración, entre ellas los mecanismos que la convierten en casi la única opción para una vida digna. La migración masiva en tiempos de crisis tiende a desestabilizar los países de destino y origen, así como cuestiona economías y políticas públicas, por ejemplo en Centroamérica. La formulación del título de esta obra, "Hacia un salto cualitativo. Migración y desarrollo en México y el norte de Centroamérica", trata de expresar lo que éste en el fondo busca ser: una introducción y profundización de un enfoque especializado que una vez comprendido, adoptado y aplicado podría llevar la discusión sobre las migraciones y sobre desarrollo en la región a otro nivel. La situación social y económica de Guatemala, Honduras y El Salvador requiere de forma urgente un debate que oxigene el bloqueo actual. El libro no pretende hablar de recetas mágicas: se busca una comprensión que permita a los habitantes, pensadores y tomadores de decisión aprender de los aciertos y errores de otros, para reorientar el propio camino. En este sentido, esta publicación podría simbolizar un inicio.

- by Gilly Boateng
- •
- Foreign Aid, Migration, Remittances and Development

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."

- by Zaara Zain Hussain and +1
- •
- Diasporas, South Asia, International Migration, Indian Diaspora (Migration and Ethnicity)

In this short case study, we look at a relatively understudied international migration
stream, migration from Turkey to Denmark, with a focus on remittance-sending
behavior. Our analysis draws on recent fi eldwork carried out in Denmark in between
2008 and 2011, thus covering the most recent global fi nancial crisis. Such economic
crises are expected to have an adverse eff ect on the volume of remittance fl ows. We
have examined this eff ect in the case of Danish Turks, who represent the largest group
among Muslim immigrants in Denmark. Our analysis shows that the Turkish immigrants
to Denmark over several decades have developed a transnational space based on
frequent visits home and have maintained ties with the hometowns and villages in the
country of origin, Turkey. We therefore believe that such a transnational space plays a
role in the continuation of remitting practices across generations of Turkish immigrants
in Denmark and partly explains the resiliency of remitting behavior to the fi nancial crisis.
We have limited our analysis to the survey data and qualitative material we collected
during the fi eldwork. Nevertheless, our study also

- by Pinar Yazgan and +1
- •
- Transnational migration, Ethnicity, Migration, Remittances and Development

Abstract -- Filipino migration is characterized by taking up positions abroad that conform to gender roles, while nonmigrating household members take over the duties of the absent migrant. When those duties do not conform to one’s gender role, one is less likely to perform the duty. In the case of a mother migrating, the father (who is “traditionally” seen as the main breadwinner, but not as the primary parent) is put into a position wherein he earns less than his wife and is expected to take care of the children. However, men are also commonly considered less capable of raising children, despite communications technology having advanced so that dual parenting can still be accomplished from abroad; fathers do not have to be seen as the only parents in this situation. The stigmatization that men experience as a result of their wives migrating has a serious effect on their feelings of masculinity and is further exacerbated by the “New Heroes” national script put forward by the government, which praises migrants as saving the nation while ignoring the equal (or greater) labor carried out in their absence. This thesis, built upon fieldwork conducted in Cebu City, disputes the widespread reputation of men as incapable fathers who rely entirely upon their wives’ remittances, and advocates calling more attention to the gender- and vocation-biased praise of the New Heroes propaganda.

- by Phillip Gresham
- •
- Social Policy, Transnationalism, Migration, Gender

Since their emergence, blockchain technologies have shown potential for financial inclusion and the formalization of remittances. Recently, regulators and practitioners have studied the capabilities of blockchain technologies to streamline and, potentially, replace the infrastructure underpinning cross-border payments and remittances, i.e., correspondent banking. Correspondent Banking Relationships, also called "Nostro-Vostro accounts," are continuous bilateral arrangements that enable banks to provide services in countries where they do not directly operate. After the Global Financial Crisis, this infrastructure has undergone "de-risking," i.e., a reduction of correspondent accounts and their concentration in fewer financial institutions, with especially detrimental effects on costs and speed of retail cross-border remittances. The existing literature has mostly focused on the point of sale of remittances, often overlooking correspondent banking. This paper, in contrast, connects remittances, blockchain technologies, and correspondent banking with the growing interest of critical social science in the significance of payment infrastructures for the constitution and configuration of money, finance, and markets. By unpacking the critical case of Ripple, this paper shows that blockchain applications to remittances focus on profits, risks, costs, interoperability, "trapped liquidity," and "idle capital" in correspondent banking accounts, rather than on financial inclusion per se. In so doing, this paper contributes to critical social studies literature on the formalization of remittances, understood as the transformation of remittances into a market frontier. Blockchain applications are shown to foster, rather than resist, remittances formalization, and they are presently being incorporated into existing infrastructures, business models, and regulatory structures. Rather than representing radically alternative monetary systems, blockchain technologies are the latest iteration of technologies heralding frictionless capitalism. Lastly, this paper shows the tensions and ambiguities inherent to interoperability and formalization. Blockchain technologies are dynamic in a way that problematizes dichotomies such formal-informal and mainstream-alternative. Hence, rather than providing a quantitative assessment of the impact of blockchain technologies, this paper investigates the ambiguities and tensions in the political economy and imaginaries inscribed in the materiality and design of blockchain-enabled payment systems.

- by Ludovico Rella
- •
- Economic Geography, Banking, Money and Banking, Science and Technology
- by Milly Sil
- •
- Finance, Labor Economics, Development Studies, Microfinance

With an increasing number of international migrants – and even more internal migrants residing in developing countries – human mobility is a reality in the South, with an ever-increasing potential to positively impact on development. In fact, South–South migration is just as important in magnitude as South–North migration. The report summarizes the major findings of the ACP Observatory’s research activities on the major aspects of migration in 12 countries of the South, in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. The report begins by highlighting the key findings of the ACP Observatory studies and is organized according to the following thematic areas: labour mobility; the
impact of South–South migration on development; diaspora and remittances; internal migration and displacement; and irregular and return migration, as well as some crosscutting
themes such as human rights and environmental migration.

- by Monika Peruffo and +1
- •
- Pacific Island Studies, Immigration Studies, Migration, Irregular Migration

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.

- by Md Mizanur Rahman
- •
- Development Studies, International Development, Gulf Studies, Transnationalism
- by Dirk Bornschein
- •
- Latin American Studies, Cuban Studies, Central America and Mexico, Paraguay
- by Md Mizanur Rahman
- •
- Southeast Asian Studies, Indonesian Studies, Migration, Southeast Asia

Romanian migration is today one of the biggest, complex, and dynamic migration to
Western Europe. This paper is a comprehensive review of the existing literature that aims
at providing a full picture of this dynamic migratory process and discusses its far-reaching
consequences. It first presents and characterizes the Romanian migration through the
different phases during and after state socialism. The second part of the paper is dedicated
to unfolding the socio-economic effects of the Romanian migration addressing the
remitting behavior and its development over the past years. The issue of return migration
is also addressed stressing that return is not much developed, however it has significant
impacts through the emergence of returnees’ entrepreneurship. Finally we address some of
the consequences of the medical doctors’ migration which is today considered one of the
main migration challenges the country is facing.

- by Remus Gabriel Anghel and +2
- •
- Social Change, Migration, Labor Migration, International Migration
- by nacer-eddine hammouda and +1
- •
- Migration Studies, Maghreb studies, Migration, Remittances and Development

In this paper I give an overview of how contemporary international labour migration can affect the country of origin. I do not intend to reach a grand conclusion concerning the ultimate effect of labour emigration on development. International labour migration is a complex phenomenon with a multitude of actors involved, occurring in a wide variety of contexts. A more satisfying approach, therefore, is to explore what effects are possible and who gains and profits under varying circumstances. Furthermore, international labour migration is likely to evoke changes which are difficult to assess normatively, but are nonetheless influential on society. I end by analyzing the recent shift towards more positive views on the consequences of migration for countries of origin and cautioning against the belief that an ultimate net effect can be estimated.

The study analyzed the effects of rural-urban migration on food security status of rural farming households in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used for selecting samples for this study. In the first stage, four Local Government Areas were selected based on their proximity to Kaduna and Zaria which are urban centers, from which two rural communities were each selected. The last stage involved random selection of 20% of the farming households from each rural community selected in stage two to give a total of 120 households for the study. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, food security index, migratory effect estimation model and binary logistic regression model. Results of socio-economic characteristics of farming households showed that the mean age of household heads in the study area was 39 years, majority (87.5%) of the households were headed by males and 83.3% of the households’ heads were married. Major occupations of the household heads were farming and trading representing 40% of all the respondents and over 59% of them had secondary school education. The results further shows that the average household size was 11 persons. Also, 40% of the household heads had farming experience of between 14 and 22 years and mean annual households income was ₦557,783.00. Majority (55.8%) of the household heads claimed not to have access to extension services. Results of socio-economic characteristic of emigrants on the other hand revealed that the mean age of emigrants of the study area was 22years and majority (82.6%) were males, and most (57.8%) of them acquired secondary education or more. Also, 62.4% of the emigrants were single and 20.8% and 25.5% were engaged in trading and unconventional literacy training respectively. Results of food security status of households revealed that 67% of the households were food secure and 33% were food insecure. The Mean Per Capita Food Expenditure (MPCFE) and food security line were ₦3,549.61 and ₦2,366.41 respectively. Result of labour loss revealed that majority (61.6%) of the households lost man-days of labour ranging from 101-150 man-days, with mean labour loss of 76man-days. Average remittance received by households in the study area was ₦95,467.00. Findings further showed that 51% of the households had positive migratory effects, while 49% had negative migratory effects. Results of logistic regression analysis showed that the coefficients of migratory effect and remittances received by households were positive and significant at 1% and 10% levels of probability respectively; while that of labour loss to migration was negative and not significant on food security status of the farming households. The result further shows that the most common food insecurity coping strategy was borrowing money to buy food items, which ranked 1st. The study concluded that rural-urban migration had a significant positive influence on food security status of rural farming households in the study area. The study finally recommended that extension agents should be responsible for creating awareness among rural populace on the need to remain and be productive in the rural area.

- by Ashafa sambo
- •
- Rural-to-urban Migration, Agricultural Economics, Labor Migration, Migration Studies

This article questions the use of immigration as a tool to counter global poverty. It argues that poor people have ahuman right to stay in their home state, which entitles them to receive development assistance without the necessityof migrating abroad. The article thus rejects a popular view in the philosophical literature on immigration which holdsthat rich states are free to choose between assisting poor people in their home states and admitting them as immigrantswhen fulﬁlling duties to assist the global poor. Since the human right to stay is entailed by values that featureprominently in the philosophical debate on immigration, the article further contends that participants in that debatehave particular reason to reject the popular‘choice view’and endorse the alternative position presented in the article

- by Kieran J Oberman
- •
- Political Philosophy, Political Theory, Immigration, Global Justice

In this paper, we argue that the recognition and protection of the rights of migrant workers, their
families, and their communities must be the focal point of any application of the capabilities approach. Moreover, this focus can contribute to reconciling a rights-focused human development approach within global governance priorities for managing migration.

- by Yvonne Su
- •
- Human Rights, Migration, Labor Migration, Capability Approach

In this chapter we focus on the stark contrast between the opportunities provided for money, goods and other materials to flow across national and continental borders versus possibilities for people –notably migrants- to do the same. It might be argued that these are two different kinds of flows, as they have different implications at a local level. Yet, we argue this to be a false differentiation; placing people, but not the economical flows they produce outside the globalization formula. In this chapter we compare flows of African migrants with those of goods and money they generate to assess whether, and how –from a transnational, functionalist and liberal viewpoint – these are fundamentally different flows.

- by Joris Schapendonk and +1
- •
- Contemporary International Migration, Anthropology of Borders, Migration, Remittances and Development

In this study, I explore gender dimensions of remittances under conditions of temporary migration in Asia. This research argues that migrant remittances are influenced by not only gender but also the context of the remittances, and that both should be integrated and elaborated to capture the complexity of remittances and their development dynamics. On the basis of surveys of 150 migrants in the United Arab Emirates and 100 migrant households in Bangladesh, in this study I examine gender dimensions of remittances by linking both sending and receiving points and elaborating on four sites of remittances, where gender matters significantly: (i) the sending process, (ii) the receipt process, (iii) the use and control of remittances and, finally, (iv) the implications for the migrant households. The study reveals several gender-differentiated patterns in remittance behaviour. Female migrants remit a greater share of their earnings than their male counterparts; they prefer sisters to brothers and other family members to husbands, while men prefer brothers to sisters and fathers to wives – and, interestingly, it was males, rather than females, who remitted more to females. Women have more control over remittances than men: in the migrant–spouse remittance route, more regular contact , and consultation and negotiation about management of remittances, are reported. Women show more interest in savings than men: women's remittances tend to be invested in human capital and those of male recipients in physical capital; more females play the role of principal economic providers for the families than their male counterparts.

- by Md Mizanur Rahman
- •
- Southeast Asian Studies, Middle East Studies, Gulf Studies, South Asian Studies

With a focus on the most recent wave of political emigration from Russia unleashed during President Vladimir Putin’s third term, this book explores the activities of those who voice political dissent after leaving their country. Based on rich ethnographic data and interviews gathered among Russian emigrants to the EU member-states, who are engaged in civic and political participation targeted at their home country, it demonstrates that emigration, particularly forced emigration in which political dissidents are squeezed out of their country, no longer functions efficiently as a means of calming political unrest. Drawing on the concept of social remittances, the author analyses the content, structure and the channels of political democratic remittances sent by political dissidents overseas, the factors that shape them and the perceived effects of these endeavours. A study of the latest wave of politically charged emigration from Russia and emigrants’ engagement in ‘homeland politics’, this volume will appeal to scholars across a range of social sciences working on migration, diaspora and democratisation processes, citizenship, EU studies and Russia studies.

- by Joanna Fomina
- •
- Russian Studies, Post-Soviet Studies, Forced Migration, Sociology of Migration

Social relations in Namibia’s southern Kunene region are shaped by translocal patterns of migration, exchange and identity. Young people move to urban areas for schooling and work, older family members return to the countryside upon retirement to take care of the livestock and the rural homesteads. These movements are accompanied by remittances and resource transfers, critical for securing livelihoods in rural as well as in urban contexts. People experience movement between households from childhood on, and many migrants develop identities that combine rural and urban lifestyles. Still, the rural homes remain the symbolic, social and economic center for most migrants. Based on data from multi-sited fieldwork, this article examines the emergence and current patterns of migration, exchange and identity formation. The author outlines a translocal perspective and argues that, in order to deepen our understanding of these dynamics, it might be productive to borrow insights from recent studies of transnationalism.

Over the past decade, a tide of economic reports and financial analyses has washed over the African continent. These widely circulated reports are the work of international consultancies, such as McKinsey & Company or Deloitte and Touche. Indeed, the influence of these professional service firms is manifest in their predictions of immense economic transformation on the continent, or what is now commonly known as “Africa Rising.” The latter, being a slogan for predications of an emergent middle class, has directed international investors’ attention to potential domestic consumer markets. But, in predicting and promoting the Africa Rising Narrative, the consultancy firms also have directed attention to the potential role of the private sector for public financing. This chapter illustrates that process through a specific example: the securitization of remittances. By recasting migrant remittances as future flow receivables, African states are able to claim increased foreign exchange reserves and thus improve sovereign credit ratings. This financial technique allows governments to access foreign capital markets by issuing sovereign bonds based on these asset-backed securities, thus bypassing longstanding channels of public credit, such as multilateral foreign aid. The international consultancies serve as intermediaries in this emerging network of migrants, local development banks, and international institutional investors, leading to new forms of debt-financing.

- by Janet Roitman
- •
- West Africa, Economics of Remittances, External Debt, Public Debt