Scientific Publication

Why do migrants remit?

author(s) de la Briere, Benedicte - de Janvry, Alain - Lambert, Sylvie - Sadoulet, Elisabeth
from International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
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themes
regions
  • Caribbean
  • Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Americas
  • World
citation

de la Briere, Benedicte et al., 'Why do migrants remit?', International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Washington, DC, 1997

Publications and datasets provided via GARDIAN

Abstract

Two contrasting hypotheses about what motivates Dominican migrants to send remittances to their rural parents in the Sierra are tested: (1) an investment in potential bequests and (2) an insurance contract between parents and migrant children. Remittances from young migrants, males, and migrants who want to return to the Sierra follow a pattern consistent with investment. In contrast, female migrants with no intention of returning to the Sierra play the role of insurers. The gender composition of the migrant siblings affects this remittance task-sharing, since women with no remitting brothers show interest in inheritance, while men with no sisters offer insurance.

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