The Impact of Remittances on Labor Supply : The Case of Jamaica

Kim, Namsuk

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: ADULT MALE;    AVERAGE EDUCATION LEVEL;    BANK OF JAMAICA;    BRAIN DRAIN;    CHILD LABOR;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-4120
RP-ID  :  WPS4120

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

A puzzle in the recently stagnatedeconomy of Jamaica is that high rates of unemployment havepersisted even when real wages have been increasing. Thispaper examines aspects of the labor supply in an effort tounderstand why high rates of unemployment have existed withincreasing real wages. This is a sign of a badly functioninglabor market. The cross-sectional analysis suggests thatremittances have some impact on labor supply, especially onlabor market participation. The pseudo panel data analysisalso confirms that remittances have a strong impact on laborparticipation but not on weekly working hours. Householdswith remittance income have a higher reservation wage andhave reduced the supply of labor by moving out of the labor force.