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Migration and Remittances in Latin America and the Caribbean: Engines of Growth and Macroeconomic Stabilizers?

Author

Listed:
  • Ms. Kimberly Beaton
  • Ms. Svetlana Cerovic
  • Misael Galdamez
  • Metodij Hadzi-Vaskov
  • Franz Loyola
  • Zsoka Koczan
  • Mr. Bogdan Lissovolik
  • Mr. Jan Kees Martijn
  • Ms. Yulia Ustyugova
  • Joyce Wong

Abstract

Outward migration has been an important phenomenon for countries in Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC), particularly those in Central America and the Caribbean. This paper examines recent trends in outward migration from and remittances to LAC, as well as their costs and benefits. For the home country, the negative impact from emigration on labor resources and productivity seems to outweigh growth gains from remittances, notably for the Caribbean. However, given emigration, remittance flows play key financing and stabilizing roles in Central America and the Caribbean. They facilitate private consumption smoothing, support financial sector stability and fiscal revenues, and help reduce poverty and inequality, without strong evidence for harmful competitiveness effects through shifts in the real exchange rate.

Suggested Citation

  • Ms. Kimberly Beaton & Ms. Svetlana Cerovic & Misael Galdamez & Metodij Hadzi-Vaskov & Franz Loyola & Zsoka Koczan & Mr. Bogdan Lissovolik & Mr. Jan Kees Martijn & Ms. Yulia Ustyugova & Joyce Wong, 2017. "Migration and Remittances in Latin America and the Caribbean: Engines of Growth and Macroeconomic Stabilizers?," IMF Working Papers 2017/144, International Monetary Fund.
  • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2017/144
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    2. Jeffrey H. Cohen & Natalia Zotova, 2021. "Rethinking remittance: The socioeconomic dynamics of giving for migrants and nonmigrants," Economic Anthropology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 8(2), pages 300-310, June.
    3. Zsóka Kóczán & Franz Loyola, 2021. "How do migration and remittances affect inequality? A case study of Mexico," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(2), pages 360-381, March.
    4. Pelin Berkmen & Ms. Kimberly Beaton & Mr. Dmitry Gershenson & Mr. Javier Arze del Granado & Kotaro Ishi & Miss Marie S Kim & Emanuel Kopp & Mrs. Marina V Rousset, 2019. "Fintech in Latin America and the Caribbean: Stocktaking," IMF Working Papers 2019/071, International Monetary Fund.
    5. International Monetary Fund, 2018. "El Salvador: Selected Issues," IMF Staff Country Reports 2018/152, International Monetary Fund.
    6. Beaton Kimberly & Cevik Serhan & Yousefi Seyed Reza, 2018. "Smooth operator: remittances and household consumption during fiscal shocks," The B.E. Journal of Macroeconomics, De Gruyter, vol. 18(2), pages 1-21, June.
    7. Yavuz Arslan & Juan Contreras & Nikhil Patel & Chang Shu, 2018. "How has globalisation affected emerging market economies?," BIS Papers chapters, in: Bank for International Settlements (ed.), Globalisation and deglobalisation, volume 100, pages 27-55, Bank for International Settlements.
    8. Ms. Kimberly Beaton & Mr. Serhan Cevik & Mr. Seyed Reza Yousefi, 2017. "Smooth Operator: Remittances and Fiscal Shocks," IMF Working Papers 2017/165, International Monetary Fund.
    9. Victor H Mlambo, 2018. "Cross-border Migration in the Southern African Development Community (SADC): Benefits, Problems and Future prospects," Journal of Social and Development Sciences, AMH International, vol. 8(4), pages 42-56.
    10. McLean, Sheldon & Metzgen, Ydahlia & Singh, Ranjit & Skerrette, Nyasha, 2018. "Economic impact of de-risking on the Caribbean: Case studies of Antigua and Barbuda, Belize and Saint Kitts and Nevis," Studies and Perspectives – ECLAC Subregional Headquarters for The Caribbean 43310, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL).
    11. Julia Bersch & Jean François Clevy & Naseem Muhammad & Mrs. Esther Perez Ruiz & Mr. Yorbol Yakhshilikov, 2021. "Fintech Potential for Remittance Transfers: A Central America Perspective," IMF Working Papers 2021/175, International Monetary Fund.

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