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Remittances for Financial Access: Lessons from Latin American Microfinance

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  • Christian Ambrosius
  • Barbara Fritz
  • Ursula Stiegler

Abstract

type="main"> The potential of migrant remittances to foster access to financial services for low-income households has been largely unexplored. Comparing three Latin American countries – the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Mexico – this inter-disciplinary study links research on remittances and microfinance with multi-actor governance approaches. While the context of high remittance-dependence provides similar challenges in all cases, it finds remarkable variety both in the structure of the remittances market and the actors involved in microfinance and in the role governments play. It explains the diverging success of MFIs in remittance markets by pointing to the interplay of for-profit, non-profit and state actors embedded within the specific market structures of each country.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian Ambrosius & Barbara Fritz & Ursula Stiegler, 2014. "Remittances for Financial Access: Lessons from Latin American Microfinance," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 32(6), pages 733-753, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:devpol:v:32:y:2014:i:6:p:733-753
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    1. Christian Ambrosius, 2016. "Remittances and Financial Access: Is There Really a Link and for Whom? Evidence from Mexican Household Data," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(7), pages 964-982, July.
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    3. Abba Yadou Barnabé & Ningaye Paul & Bangake Chrysost, 2021. "Do remittances spur financial inclusion in Africa? a multi-dimensional approach," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 41(2), pages 328-341.
    4. Chrysost BANGAKE & Jude EGGOH, 2020. "Les transferts des migrants améliorent-ils l’inclusion financière dans les pays récipiendaires ?," Region et Developpement, Region et Developpement, LEAD, Universite du Sud - Toulon Var, vol. 51, pages 115-132.
    5. Rahel Kunz & Brenda Ramírez, 2022. "‘Cambiando el chip’: The gendered constellation of subjectivities of the financialisation of remittances in Mexico," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 54(4), pages 779-799, June.
    6. Matt Bakker, 2016. "Remittances and the promise of financial democracy: critical reflections from the US-Mexico case," Remittances Review, Remittances Review, vol. 1(1), pages 53-64, October.
    7. Durga Prasad Gautam, 2017. "Remittance inflows and starting a business," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Public Policy, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 6(3), pages 290-314, November.
    8. Ambrosius, Christian & Cuecuecha, Alfredo, 2016. "Remittances and the Use of Formal and Informal Financial Services," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 80-98.

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