Remittances Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

This article explores the role of remittances in Eritrea’s transnational authoritarian system. The government exercises a policy of active control over Eritrean citizens living abroad, and the country’s economy relies heavily on private remittances to ensure the subsistence of the population. This stands in stark contrast to the official doctrine of economic self-reliance, which has been hampered by an open-ended national service that can last for decades and deprives Eritrean citizens in productive age from making a living. The government also puts extreme restraints on the private sector. As a result, the livelihoods of Eritreans depend mostly on diaspora remittances. The authors take a historically contextualised approach based on empirical fieldwork in Eritrea from the 1990s to 2010 and among Eritrean diaspora communities in Europe between 2013 and 2019. We demonstrate how the government’s self-reliance approach has shifted from developing Eritrea’s human capital to securing financial support through transnational diaspora control. We conclude that in the case of Eritrea, the process of diasporisation has not triggered development and political transformation but has cemented a political and economic status quo that forces ever-growing parts of the population to leave.

- by and +1
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- African Diaspora Studies, Eritrea, Diaspora and transnationalism, Remittances
- by Nikos Passas
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- Business, Money Laundering, Remittances, International Aid and Development

-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
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- International Migration, Remittances, Migration, Remittances and Development, Real Effective Exchange Rates

This paper compares Japan and the US as they provide different types of capital to the developing world, focusing especially on foreign aid and, to some extent, also on remittances and the role of NGOs. The main focus is on the quality of aid and on past conceptual differences and on an emerging convergence between these two major donors, with Japan having the potential advantage of being able to bring its own historical experience in development to bear.

- by Ken Togo
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- Political Science, Foreign Aid, Japan, Remittances

The relationship between overseas Filipino workers and the Philippine government is often portrayed as one of “mutual empowerment.” However, the comparison of the effectiveness of recent policies intended to enfranchise overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and the economic consequences of reliance on OFW remittances questions the validity of this depiction. Rather, the relationship between OFWs and the Philip- pine government is best described as one of “mutual enabling.” The political measures intended to benefit OFWs are often ineffective or may even limit OFWs’ civil liberties, while a remittance-based economy fuels massive consumption spending and entrench- es a culture of political inertia that impedes long-term sustainable development at the national level.

- by Audrey M Wozniak
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- Political Science, Philippines, Remittances, Overseas Filipino Workers

This paper analyzes the evolution of Spanish migration along the history, emphasizing that the current crisis has not many differences from the past. The problem of emigration is considered as the result of inherited aspects of the past, as it is, through lack of foresight of production model. Many of the present conditions in the emigration of yesteryear are being played today, with one main difference, the high qualifications of current migrants off the low qualification above.

- by Juan José Mediavilla Merino and +2
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- Population Dynamics, Migration Studies, Economics of Remittances, Return Migration
- by Stephanie López Villamil
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- Migration Studies, Public Policy Analysis, Remittances

Every year millions of women working millions of jobs overseas send hundreds of millions of dollars in remittance funds back to their homes and communities. These funds go to fill hungry bellies, clothe and educate children, provide health care and generally improve living standards for loved ones left behind. (United Nations Population Fund 2006, 1)

- by Rahel Kunz
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- Gender, Remittances, IPE

This study challenges proverbial notions by contesting that the definition of skilled human capital should be expanded to include undergraduates, and in doing so, examines three (3) possible factors that increase the propensity of Malaysian undergraduates to return. Relationships between the proposed factors and the undergraduates’ (n=175) propensity to return were statistically colligated, verified and ranked according to their correlational strength. All three independent variables: (1) Social influence: Parents, Friends and Diaspora, (2) Entrepreneurial Opportunities and Venues of Activism (Social Initiatives) and (3) Governmental Engagement of Students are statistically found to be significant at influencing the propensity of Malaysian undergraduates to return. Governmental engagement possesses the highest correlational strength, unearthing new possibilities that could result from their role in undergraduate repatriation. Following that, the implication of the findings on domestic repatriation policies were expounded upon and appropriate recommendations were made as a conclusory discussion.

- by Tze Yeen Liew
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- Malaysia, Labor Migration, Migration Studies, Diaspora Studies

This first micro-level study of temporary migrants from developing countries in Qatar uses data collected during the summer of 2007. The median migrant has the following profile: male, thirty-one years of age, single and possessing a high school education. He works ten hours a day, six days per week, and earns US$3,945 per annum of which over half is remitted home to his parents. He incurred a job placement fee equivalent to 1.25 times his monthly salary. Using multivariate regression, we find that migrants' capacity for work is positively correlated with age, having a university degree, and satisfaction with sleep and mental wellbeing. Estimates of a remittance function show that males send more money home, and that migrants are motivated to save, therefore a tendency to transfer higher amounts. We also find that older migrants remit more, suggesting that as the likelihood of returning home increases with age, remittance level rises.

- by Ganesh Seshan
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- International Migration, Qatar, Remittances

Abstract: Remittances are increasingly becoming an important source of external financing for the developing countries. For some of the developing countries, it forms almost 40-50% of their GDP. Though there is a growing literature on the impact of
remittances on development, very few studies have empirically estimated the impact of remittances on poverty in the developing countries. This study undertakes impact analysis of remittances on poverty in developing countries at two levels. Firstly, it estimates the impact of remittances on poverty in 77 developing countries; Secondly, separate analyses are undertaken for 29 developing countries and 21 Asian developing counties, which have 5% or more share of remittances in GDP. The results of the study consistently show that remittances significantly reduce poverty in recipient countries but the results are more reliable for countries with remittances greater than 5% of GDP.

For the last forty years, remittances have been the Philippines’ lifeline in times of crisis as well as everyday life. So, it was no surprise when the media and NGOs credited the diaspora with playing a significant role in post-disaster recovery after Typhoon Haiyan (local name: Yolanda) struck the Philippines on November 2013. This article takes a critical view of this portrayal and argues that the rising tide of remittances do not lift all boats. While remittances may pour in after a spectacular disaster, they are differently experienced, have different impacts, and therefore, uneven post-disaster outcomes. This article highlights the class-based inequalities that structure the access to, and mobilization of remittances after post-disaster recovery. We compare middle and lower class households in three communities heavily affected by Haiyan in Tacloban City, Philippines, to investigate who benefits, and who is excluded from, remittances in post-disaster recovery. The findings of the case study shed light on wider issues of poverty, class and vulnerability in the Philippines.

- by Yvonne Su and +1
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- Disaster Studies, Migration, Philippines, Migration Studies

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
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- Motivation (Psychology), Migration, Irregular Migration, Labor Migration
- by Md Mizanur Rahman
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- Migration, Migration Studies, Economics of Remittances, Remittances

International remittance is now one of talking issues around the world as it has been playing a vital role in socioeconomic development of the developing countries like Bangladesh since last few decades. Thus, the present study explores the impact of international remittances on household poverty and welfare in Bangladesh. To achieve this objective, the study analyses primary data collected from 360 households from Cumilla district of Bangladesh. To find out the impact of remittances on poverty, the study employs the Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT) index. On the other hand, a one way ANOVA test is used to examine the impact of remittances on household welfare. The paper finds that the incidence, depth and severity of poverty among remittance recipient households is quite less than that of remittance non-recipient households. Empirically, the study finds that about 6 percent of remittance recipient households lives below the poverty line while this rate is 48 percent for non-recipient households. The study also finds that the average gross per capita expenditure of remittance receiving households is three times higher than that of non-recipient households which interprets that recipient households enjoy higher level of welfare. Thus, it is found that remittances have significant influence on household welfare. The study recommends nursing international remittances as an important tool in reducing poverty and enhancing welfare.

- by Bezon Kumar
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- Welfare Economics, Poverty, Remittances

Social Remittance Dynamics in Central Asia: Potential and Limitations

- by Zhengizkhan Zhanaltay
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- Labor Migration, Eurasia, International Migration, Migration Studies

The research for this Oxfam Novib study was conducted in Cebu City, Philippines, and the surrounding metropolitan area, collectively known as Metro Cebu, which stands as the second most populous metropolitan area in the Philippines behind the Manila complex. The area was described by one of our respondents as having many families with an overseas Filipino worker1 (OFW) member and is therefore a great place to research the effects of change that remittances have on these households. The Philippines as a whole are a ...

- by Lothar Smith
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- Gender, Philippines, ICT for Development, Masculinities
- by Cheng Yi'En and +1
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- Singapore, Transnational migration, Vietnam, Remittances

This article proposes a conceptual framework for studying remittances as social transactions that can take a number of different forms. For the past three decades, the dominant framework for understanding remittance relationships has been the continuum of senders' motives from altruism to self-interest. This approach has its roots in economics and has shaped much of the quantitative research on remittances. In parallel, a growing body of ethnographic research has examined transnational money transfers with perspectives and data that differ from those of economists. The insights from these ethnographic studies are valuable, but remain fragmented and marginal in research on remittances. Two key points emerge from the ethnographic literature: Remittances are at the core of composite transactions with material, emotional, and relational elements, and there is great variation in the nature and logic of these transactions. The framework proposed here is designed to engage with both complexity and variation. It systematically draws upon a large body of ethnographic literature and introduces remittance scripts as an analytical tool.

- by Intan Mala Sari
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- Remittances

ABSTRACT For the last forty years, remittances have been a lifeline for some Filipinos in times of crisis as well as everyday life. So, it was no surprise when the media and nongovernmental organizations credited the Philippine diaspora with playing a significant role in post-disaster recovery after Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda struck in 2013. While remittances poured in after this disaster, they were differently experienced, had different impacts, and led to uneven post-disaster outcomes. This article highlights the class-based inequalities that structure access to and mobilization of remittances after post-disaster recovery. We compare the experiences of middle- and lower-class households in three communities heavily affected by Haiyan in Tacloban City, Philippines, to investigate who benefitted and who was excluded from remittances in this post-disaster recovery. The findings of the case study shed light on wider issues of poverty, class, and vulnerability in the Philippines.

- by Yvonne Su
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- Southeast Asian Studies, Humanitarianism, Poverty, Disaster Studies

This is my internship report that I have completed for the partial requirement of my MBA degree. This report is thoroughly monitored and supervised by Md. Mahmudul Huq sir. I have created this report based on my internship at Southeast Bank Ltd (14th February - 12th May 2022). This report is based on foreign exchange, foreign trade, imports, exports, analyses, remittances, etc.

- by Faheem Hasan
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- Banking, Forex, MBA finance, Remittances
- by Milly Sil
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- Development Economics, Labor Economics, Migration Studies, Remittances

This case study looks at the development of a money transfer company in a dynamic and fast changing market. Transnational nature of the business as well as profiles of customers are emphasised. Ria Money Transfer is part of the Euronet, US based parent company. Aspiring to become the most progressive company in the sector, Ria deals with customers with backgrounds from all over the world. This is also reflected in the work force of the company. Operating in distinct environments, businesses are not only concerned with a multicultural body of customers, agents and clients but also multiple economic, political, technological environments with a large number of small and big competitors. This case study alludes to the questions about the key drivers of success for a transnational company with such complex web of markets, consumers, clients and competitors. Company information, direct quotes from representatives and media are used to illustrate aspects of the business and markets.

- by Anett Condick-Brough and +1
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- Remittances, Transnational Studies, Case Study

Nevoja per te orientuar dergesat e parave dhe kontributet e emigranteve drejt investimeve dhe ekonomise prodhuese duhet te jete nje prioritet per qeverine dhe perfshirjen e tyre si instrumenta reale per ekonomine. Ne kete mes qeveria... more

- by Eduart Gjokutaj
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- Albania, Remittances, Kosova, Remitanca

This article explores the relationship between transnationalism and integration by examining the determinants of remittance-sending practices. We base our analysis on the premise that remittance-sending is shaped by a combination of the capacity and the desire of migrants to remit. The capacity to remit depends on access to funds that can be remitted, be it through wages, other income or savings. The desire to remit determines
how remittance-sending is prioritised in relation to alternative expenditures. We assume that capacity is shaped by circumstances in the country of residence while desire depends
on attachment and commitments in both the country of residence and the country of origin. Our analysis is based on survey data on immigrants in Norway (N=3,053). We find that economic integration is important for remittance-sending, and point to different mechanisms through which this effect could operate. Migrants’ socio-cultural integration, however, appears not to have significant effects on remittance-sending. Our approach and results illustrate how different aspects of integration can have divergent impacts on transnationalism.

- by Kristian Hoelscher and +1
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- Transnationalism, Economic integration, Norway, Remittances

This is the first volume of the Proceedings of The Migration Conference 2020. The Migration Conference 2020 was held online due to COVID-19 Pandemic and yet, in over 80 parallel sessions and plenaries key migration debates saw nearly 500 experts from around the world engaging. This collection contains contributions mainly dealing with migration and integration debates. These are only a subset of all presentations from authors who chose to submit full short papers for publication after the conference. Most of the contributions are work in progress and unedited versions. The next migration conference is going to be hosted by Ming-Ai Institute in London, UK. Looking forward to continuing the debates on human mobility after the Pandemic. | www.migrationconference.net | @migrationevent | fb.me/MigrationConference | Email: migrationscholar@gmail.com

- by TMC M I G R A T I O N Conference
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- Migration Studies, Remittances, Human Mobility

The study assesses how external flows influence inclusive human development in a panel of 48 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa for the period 2000-2012. The empirical evidence is based on Tobit regressions and Generalised Method of Moments. The findings from both estimation techniques reveal that remittances and FDI increase inclusive development whereas foreign aid has the opposite effect. The results suggest some positive and negative impacts of interest for further analysis. First, remittances are negatively associated with: (i) Middle income countries compared to Low income countries where the effect is not significant; (ii) French Civil law countries compared to English Common law countries where the effect is positive and (iii) Resource-rich countries compared to their Resource-poor counterparts where the effect is positive. Second, foreign aid is more negatively linked to Low income, French Civil law, Islam-dominated, Un-landlocked, Resource-rich and Politically-unstable countries. Third, FDI is positively associated with: (i) Low income, French Civil law and Landlocked countries compared to respectively Middle income, English Common law and Un-landlocked countries where the effect is insignificant and (ii) Politically-stable countries compared to their Politically-unstable counterparts where the effect is negative.

- by Simplice Asongu (PhD) and +1
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- Economics, Development Economics, Foreign Policy Analysis, Africa

Janata Bank Limited is one of the largest state owned commercial banks of Bangladesh. The main objective of the Bank is to provide all possible banking services at the doorsteps of the customers. The Bank also participates in various social and development programs and takes part in implementation of various policies and promises made by the Government. Janata Bank Limited welcomes all to explore the world of progressive banking in Bangladesh. It is a state owned commercial bank and it was born with a new concept of purposeful banking sub serving the growing and diversified financial needs of planned economic development of the country. Now it is known as one of the leading bank of the country since its commencement 45 years ago. Since its inception it is keeping economic contribution and serving a huge number of people, as the part of my internship requirements I had chance to drill with various banking services. This report is a clustered format of JBL's overall innovative banking services. In the report entitled " Remittance Management of Janata Bank Limited "-I have tried exclusively to emphasize on JBL's NRB remittance as well as its management process elaborately.

- by Md. Mahbubul Islam
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- Remittances, Remittance Management Programs

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)

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

Dans le contexte de la Déclaration EU-Afrique sur la Migration et la Mobilité signée lors du 4ème sommet UE-Afrique en avril 2014, cette anthologie IAO-ZEI offre un compte-rendu des délibérations de la 5ème conférence IAO-ZEI qui a eu lieu les 8 et 9 septembre 2014 à Praia, au Cap-Vert, dans le but de trouver des approches innovatrices et alternatives concernant les questions actuelles sur l’immigration et la société civile dans les deux régions. Les articles se concentrent surtout sur les questions suivantes : quelles synergies peut-on trouver avec les sociétés civiles d’un côté et les partenaires extérieurs de l’autre, qui permettraient de gérer efficacement la migration inter et intrarégionale ? Comment pourrait-on utiliser de manière effective les ressources humaines et financières afin de favoriser les échanges commerciaux et d’intensifier les efforts d’intégration régionale ? Comment pourrait-on harmoniser les différents domaines politiques, afin que la question de la migration prenne en compte les aspects du développement mondial ?

- by Center for European Integration Studies and +1
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- Migration, Regional Integration, Civil Society, Remittances

The COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the measures put in place by governments all over the world to contrast its diffusion, are having and will continue to have a strong impact on societies worldwide, as well as on a broad range of economic, political and social sectors. They are also likely to have a significant influence on migration and its governance. At the current stage, it is still difficult to predict how this crisis will unfold and how it will shape migration between Europe and Africa and related policy measures. However, in the last 13 years migration and migration governance have already been influenced by other economic or political “crises”. In 2007– 2008, 2011 and 2015, the financial crisis, the Arab Spring and increased migrant arrivals respectively triggered moments of change and of intense policy negotiations. These have contributed to shape the social, economic and policy environment in which the COVID-19-related crisis is unfolding, as well as policy and programming response mechanisms. Analysing this double impact can serve as a good starting point to reflect on possible consequences of and challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic and on appropriate policy and programmatic responses.
This contribution explores the effects that previous “crises” have had on migration policies, migration flows and migrants´ potential to contribute to household resilience and national development in their countries of origin. It highlights trends that have emerged and analyses how they have contributed to shape the context in which the COVID-19 epidemic is having an impact. Finally, the contribution formulates some policy and data-related recommendations.
It focuses on migration from West Africa to Europe and on policy negotiations within and between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the European Union (EU).

- by Irene Schöfberger
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- European Studies, Migration, European Foreign Policy, European Union
- by Ivaylo Markov
- •
- Social Change, Transnationalism, Yugoslavia, Labor Migration

We’re pleased to welcome you to Harokopio University, Athens in August for the Migration Conference. The 5th conference in our series, the 2017 Conference is probably the largest scholarly gathering on migration with a global scope. Human mobility, border management, integration and security, diversity and minorities as well as spatial patterns, identity and economic implications have dominated the public agenda and gave an extra impetus for the study of movers and non-movers over the last decade or so. Throughout the program of the Migration Conference you will find various key thematic areas are covered in about 400 presentations by about 400 colleagues coming from all around the world from Australia to Canada, China to Mexico, South Africa to Finland. We are also proud to bring you opportunities to meet with some of the leading scholars in the field. Our line of keynote speakers include Saskia Sassen, Oded Stark, Giuseppe Sciortino, Neli Esipova, and Yüksel Pazarkaya. The Migration Conference also offers training and development opportunities and participants are encouraged to register for workshops. Dilek Cindoğlu will be running a workshop on grounded theory while Jeffrey H. Cohen and Ibrahim Sirkeci will be leading the meet the editors session. As usual we allow significant time to focus on the host country migration debates. Apostolos Papadopoulos, co-chair of the Conference will moderate the roundtable debate on Migration / Refugee Crisis and its Aftermath: Challenges for migration policy in Greece in the evening of the opening day.

- by Transnational Press London and +3
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- Social Movements, Refugee Studies, Diasporas, Romani Studies

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
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- Economic Geography, Banking, Money and Banking, Science and Technology

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
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- Development Studies, International Development, Gulf Studies, Transnationalism
- by Md Mizanur Rahman
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- 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
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- Social Change, Migration, Labor Migration, International Migration

An overview of migration in Nepal

- by Sanj Srma
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- Migration, Labor Migration, International Migration, Internal migration