Remittance Markets in Africa

Mohapatra, Sanket ; Ratha, Dilip

World Bank

关键词: COSTS;    COUNTRIES OF ORIGIN;    ECONOMIC BENEFITS;    HOST SOCIETIES;    IMPROVED EDUCATION OUTCOMES;   

DOI  :  10.1596/978-0-8213-8475-6
RP-ID  :  61310

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 substantive literature suggests thatmigration generates benefits for migrants, the hostsocieties, and the countries of origin. The economicbenefits for the countries of origin are realized primarilythrough the receipt of remittances. These large and stableresource flows remained relatively resilient during theglobal financial crisis compared to steep declines inprivate capital flows, and they have quickly recovered tothe pre crisis levels. African countries are estimated tohave received $40 billion in officially recorded flows in2010, but the true size is believed to be far larger.Remittances are associated with reduction in poverty,improved education and health outcomes, and increasedavailability of funds for small business investments.Remittances represent a positive and relativelynoncontroversial outcome of migration. This volume bringstogether studies of remittance markets in eight Sub-SaharanAfrican countries and two key destinations for Africanmigrants outside the African continent. It provides anoverview of the remittance markets, and the policy andinstitutional environments in both sending and receivingcountries. Based on primary surveys of remittance serviceproviders about the types of remittance services, barriersto entry and exit, legal and regulatory environment,remittance costs, and innovative technologies, the chaptersof this volume provide a unique window into the functioningof remittance markets in this region. the volume, measuresto reduce remittance fees, increase market competition andconsumer protection, increase the involvement of postoffices and other non-bank institutions, and encourage theextension of mobile money transfer services to cross-borderremittances will benefit the ultimate clients, the people ofAfrica. I hope that the findings of this volume willmotivate more research, improved data collection, and policyaction in the area of migrant remittances in Africa.