Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/264175 
Year of Publication: 
2022
Series/Report no.: 
ADBI Working Paper No. 1315
Publisher: 
Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), Tokyo
Abstract: 
This paper examines the countercyclicality of remittance inflows to the countries in Asia and the Pacific. It also aims to identify major determinants of remittances using gravity models of bilateral remittances. We find that bilateral remittance inflows are countercyclical against the business cycle of a remittance-receiving country relative to a sending country. The degree to which remittances are countercyclical is found to vary significantly by subregion: Central Asia and Southeast Asia, including many remittance-dependent countries, show stronger countercyclicality than other subregions. The estimated models suggest that migrant stock is a top determinant of remittances, and that an increase in bilateral remittances is explained by a higher occurrence of disasters caused by natural hazards in receiving countries, appreciation of a receiving country's currency value against that of the sending country, lower interest rate differential (receiver-sender), greater capital account openness and higher political instability, and lower costs of remittances. This suggests that an altruistic motivation to remit prevails in the region. We also find that the countercyclicality of remittances rises when recipient countries experience more frequent disasters, a higher old-age dependence ratio, less stringent capital control, and stable political climate.
Subjects: 
Asia and the Pacific
countercyclicality
business cycle
gravity model
JEL: 
C23
F24
F44
Creative Commons License: 
cc-by-nc-nd Logo
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.