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Understanding Remittances: Theoretical and Methodological Issues

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Migrant Remittances in South Asia

Part of the book series: International Political Economy Series ((IPES))

Abstract

Remittances are integral to migration because one of the basic motives for migrating is to remit a portion of earnings to the communities of origin, especially under conditions of temporary labour migration. Since temporary migrants typically leave their families behind, they have a strong bond with the countries of origin and maintain regular contact through remittances. In general, migrant remittances refer to ‘money and goods that are transmitted to households by migrant workers working outside of their origin coun- tries’ (Adams 2009: 93). In 2013, remittance flows to developing countries through formal financial channels alone amounted to over US$ 400 billion (World Bank 2013: 1). Remittances to Asia comprise the highest regional total in the globe, and 8 of the top 20 remittance-receiving countries in the world are in Asia.1 What is interesting about migrant remittances in Asia is that, while remittance flows to Latin America, the Caribbean and North Africa fell in 2009 due to recession, a notable exception was many Asian labour-sending countries where remittance volumes grew in the same year,2 raising hopes for the development potential of remittances even at a time of global economic downturn.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Brunei

    Lian Kwen Fee (Professor of Sociology)

Authors
  1. Md Mizanur Rahman
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  2. Lian Kwen Fee
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore, Singapore

    Md Mizanur Rahman (Senior Research Fellow) & Tan Tai Yong (Professor Tan, a historian) (Senior Research Fellow) &  (Professor Tan, a historian)

  2. American University in Cairo, Egypt

    A K M Ahsan Ullah (Associate Director) (Associate Director)

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© 2014 Md Mizanur Rahman and Lian Kwen Fee

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Rahman, M.M., Fee, L.K. (2014). Understanding Remittances: Theoretical and Methodological Issues. In: Rahman, M.M., Yong, T.T., Ullah, A.K.M.A. (eds) Migrant Remittances in South Asia. International Political Economy Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137350800_2

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