Do migrants send remittances as a way of self-insurance?

C-Tier
Journal: Oxford Economic Papers
Year: 2016
Volume: 68
Issue: 1
Pages: 108-130

Authors (2)

Score contribution per author:

0.503 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 0.5x C-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

How do risk preferences affect migrant remittance behaviour? Examination of this relationship has only begun to be explored. Using a tailored representative survey of 1,354 immigrants in the Greater Dublin Area, Ireland, we find a positive and significant relationship between risk aversion and migrant remittances. Risk-averse individuals are more likely to send remittances home and are, on average, likely to remit a higher amount, after controlling for a broad range of individual and group characteristics. The evidence we obtain, that more remittances are sent by risk-averse immigrants who face higher wage risks and to individuals with more financial resources, is consistent with self-insurance although we cannot, with our data, rule out other exchange motives.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:oxecpp:v:68:y:2016:i:1:p:108-130.
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-24