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What drives remittances during a global shock? Evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico

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  • Ambrosius, Christian
  • Campos Vázquez, Raymundo M.
  • Esquivel, Gerardo

Abstract

During a global shock two forces act upon international remittances in opposite directions: income losses among migrants may reduce their ability to send remittances and, at the same time, migrants' concern for their family's wellbeing may prompt them to send more remittances back home. Which of these drivers prevail is an empirical matter. We assemble quarterly data at the subnational level in Mexico to study the behavior of remittances during the Covid-19 pandemic. We estimate elasticities of remittances with respect to employment conditions at both origin and destination places of Mexican migrants. Our results show that destination country conditions have been the main driver of remittances to Mexico, whereas origin country conditions had no discernible effect on remittances during the pandemic. We also show that contractions in consumption in Mexico are associated with reductions in remittances. We conclude that risk-coping via remittances provides limited protection during global crises.

Suggested Citation

  • Ambrosius, Christian & Campos Vázquez, Raymundo M. & Esquivel, Gerardo, 2021. "What drives remittances during a global shock? Evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico," Discussion Papers 2021/13, Free University Berlin, School of Business & Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:fubsbe:202113
    DOI: 10.17169/refubium-31486
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Ambrosius, Christian & Cuecuecha, Alfredo, 2013. "Are Remittances a Substitute for Credit? Carrying the Financial Burden of Health Shocks in National and Transnational Households," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 143-152.
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    6. Nora Lustig & Valentina Martinez Pabon & Federico Sanz & Stephen D. Younger, 2020. "The Impact of COVID-19 Lockdowns and Expanded Social Assistance on Inequality, Poverty and Mobility in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico," Working Papers 558, ECINEQ, Society for the Study of Economic Inequality.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ana Paula Goerne Luna & Jaime Lara Lara & Luz Daniela Montañez Martínez & Regina Saracho Cueto & Alonso Torre De Silva & Iliana Michelle Zaldivar Galindo, 2023. "COVID-19 and remittances to Mexican states," Economics and Business Letters, Oviedo University Press, vol. 12(1), pages 33-39.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Migration; COVID-19; Remittances; Consumption; Mexico;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • F24 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Remittances
    • J23 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Labor Demand
    • O54 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Latin America; Caribbean

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