IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/rdevec/v29y2025i1p476-498.html

Does democracy stimulate remittances?

Author

Listed:
  • Farid Makhlouf

Abstract

The phenomenon of remittances is the subject of intense debate among politicians, researchers, and academics. This is because it touches on a multitude of human, economic, and financial aspects. This paper empirically investigates the empirical relationship between political systems and remittances in order to understand how changes in political systems in the home and host countries affect remittances. By using the gravity model of bilateral remittance flows for 101 sending countries and 92 developing receiving countries for the period 2010–2017. Findings indicate that strengthening democratic processes in countries of origin leads to more remittances. This result is most pronounced in low‐income countries. However, democracy in host countries has a negative effect on remittances. These findings are robust to the different techniques and specifications used. Strengthening democratic institutions in low‐income countries can attract more financial flows.

Suggested Citation

  • Farid Makhlouf, 2025. "Does democracy stimulate remittances?," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(1), pages 476-498, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:rdevec:v:29:y:2025:i:1:p:476-498
    DOI: 10.1111/rode.13133
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/rode.13133
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/rode.13133?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Stephen Snudden, 2018. "International remittances, migration and primary commodities," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(11), pages 2934-2953, November.
    2. El Mouhoub Mouhoud, 2018. "Les frontières visibles et invisibles des migrations internationales," Post-Print hal-01874203, HAL.
    3. John Bosco Nnyanzi, 2016. "What drives international remittances to Africa," African Journal of Economic and Management Studies, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 7(3), pages 397-418, September.
    4. Hansen, Lars Peter, 1982. "Large Sample Properties of Generalized Method of Moments Estimators," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 50(4), pages 1029-1054, July.
    5. Farid Makhlouf & Kamal Kasmaoui & Johanna Edelbloude, 2019. "Voting With The Wallet: The Response of Remittances to Political Systems," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 39(2), pages 1639-1650.
    6. Seyedsoroosh Azizi, 2019. "Why do migrants remit?," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 42(2), pages 429-452, February.
    7. Fambeu, Ariel Herbert & Yomi, Patricia Tchawa, 2023. "Is democracy pro poor in Sub-Saharan Africa?," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 45(1), pages 10-30.
    8. Siegfried, Nikolaus & Schiopu, Ioana, 2006. "Determinants of workers' remittances: evidence from the European Neighbouring Region," Working Paper Series 688, European Central Bank.
    9. Cazachevici, Alina & Havranek, Tomas & Horvath, Roman, 2020. "Remittances and economic growth: A meta-analysis," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    10. Farid Makhlouf & Refk Selmi, 2024. "‘From aspirations for climate action to the reality of climate disasters’: Can remittances play key role in disaster response?," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(8), pages 3487-3510, August.
    11. Scott McCracken & Carlyn Ramlogan-Dobson & Marie M. Stack, 2017. "A gravity model of remittance determinants: evidence from Latin America and the Caribbean," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(5), pages 737-749, May.
    12. Adenutsi, Deodat E. & Ahortor, Christian R. K., 2021. "Macroeconomic Determinants of Remittance Flows to Sub-Saharan Africa," Working Papers 5c915586-e519-4a3e-a534-9, African Economic Research Consortium.
    13. L. De & J. Gaillard & W. Friesen & F. Smith, 2015. "Remittances in the face of disasters: a case study of rural Samoa," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 17(3), pages 653-672, June.
    14. Hendrik P. van Dalen & George Groenewold & Tineke Fokkema, 2005. "Remittances and their Effect on Emigration Intentions in Egypt, Morocco and Turkey," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 05-030/1, Tinbergen Institute.
    15. Raju Jan Singh & Markus Haacker & Kyung-woo Lee & Maëlan Le Goff, 2011. "Determinants and Macroeconomic Impact of Remittances in Sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 20(2), pages 312-340, March.
    16. Giorgio Fagiolo & Tommaso Rughi, 2023. "Exploring the Macroeconomic Drivers of International Bilateral Remittance Flows: A Gravity-Model Approach," Economies, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-27, July.
    17. Catalina Amuedo-Dorantes & Susan Pozo, 2012. "Remittance Income Volatility and Labor Supply in Mexico," Southern Economic Journal, Southern Economic Association, vol. 79(2), pages 257-276, October.
    18. John Bosco Nnyanzi, 2016. "What drives international remittances to Africa," African Journal of Economic and Management Studies, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 7(3), pages 397-418, September.
    19. Bernard Poirine & Vincent Dropsy, 2019. "Diaspora growth and aggregate remittances: an inverted-U relationship?," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(11), pages 1151-1165, March.
    20. Akanbi, Sa’ad Babatunde & Yusuf, Abdulfatai Adekunle, 2024. "Governance Quality and Remittances in Nigeria: An Empirical Investigation," African Journal of Economic Review, African Journal of Economic Review, vol. 12(01), March.
    21. Naqeeb Ur Rehman & Eglantina Hysa & Wai Ching Poon, 2021. "The effect of financial development and remittances on economic growth," Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 9(1), pages 1932060-193, January.
    22. Maëlan Le Goff & Sara Salomone, 2016. "Remittances and the Changing Composition of Migration," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(4), pages 513-529, April.
    23. Marie Coiffard, 2011. "Les transferts de fonds des migrants Tadjiks : étude des déterminants macroéconomiques," Post-Print halshs-00632384, HAL.
    24. Carlos Vargas-Silva & Peng Huang, 2006. "Macroeconomic determinantsof workers' remittances: Hostversus home country's economic conditions," The Journal of International Trade & Economic Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(1), pages 81-99.
    25. repec:aer:wpaper:415 is not listed on IDEAS
    26. Mills, Evan, 2023. "Green Remittances: A novel form of sustainability finance," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    27. Hrushikesh Mallick, 2017. "Determinants of workers’ remittances: An empirical investigation for a panel of eleven developing Asian economies," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(12), pages 2875-2900, December.
    28. Junaid Ahmed & Mazhar Mughal & Inmaculada Martínez‐Zarzoso, 2021. "Sending money home: Transaction cost and remittances to developing countries," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(8), pages 2433-2459, August.
    29. Catalina Amuedo-Dorantes & Susan Pozo, 2012. "Remittance Income Volatility and Labor Supply in Mexico," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 79(2), pages 257-276, October.
    30. repec:aer:wpaper:93c903426e96 is not listed on IDEAS
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Farid Makhlouf, 2025. "Does Political Instability Affect Migrant Behavior?," Bulletin of Economic Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 77(4), pages 535-541, October.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Junaid Ahmed & Mazhar Mughal & Inmaculada Martínez‐Zarzoso, 2021. "Sending money home: Transaction cost and remittances to developing countries," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 44(8), pages 2433-2459, August.
    2. Luca Pieroni & Melcior Rossello Roig, 2024. "The effect of obtaining EU citizenship in former transition economies on remittance flows," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(6), pages 2361-2399, June.
    3. Farid Makhlouf & Refk Selmi, 2024. "‘From aspirations for climate action to the reality of climate disasters’: Can remittances play key role in disaster response?," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(8), pages 3487-3510, August.
    4. Hou, Yulin & Jia, Shaomeng, 2023. "Do remittances react to commodity windfall? Evidence from Latin America and the Caribbean," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    5. Artatrana Ratha and Eungmin Kang, 2020. "Macroeconomic Determinants of International Remittances: Evidence from Time-Series and Panel Methods," Journal of Economic Development, Chung-Ang Unviersity, Department of Economics, vol. 45(3), pages 51-76, September.
    6. Angana Parashar SARMA & Muniyor KRISHNA, 2024. "Causal Nexus Between Remittance Inflow And Its Determinants, 1998-2020: Evidence From The South And Southeast Asian Lmics," Applied Econometrics and International Development, Euro-American Association of Economic Development, vol. 24(1), pages 97-120.
    7. Farid Makhlouf & Refk Selmi, 2023. ""From Aspirations for Climate Action to the Reality of Climate Disasters": Can Migrants Play Key Role in Disaster Response?," Working Papers hal-04137400, HAL.
    8. Giorgio Fagiolo & Tommaso Rughi, 2023. "Exploring the Macroeconomic Drivers of International Bilateral Remittance Flows: A Gravity-Model Approach," Economies, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-27, July.
    9. Wu, Chen & Nsiah, Christian & Fayissa, Bichaka, 2023. "Analyzing the differential impacts of financial sector development on remittance inflows," Research in Economics, Elsevier, vol. 77(2), pages 239-250.
    10. Sven Steinkamp & Frank Westermann, 2022. "Development aid and illicit capital flight: Evidence from Nepal," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 45(7), pages 2305-2336, July.
    11. Hannes Warnecke-Berger, 2022. "The financialization of remittances and the individualization of development: A new power geometry of global development," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 54(4), pages 702-721, June.
    12. Eduardo Germán Zurita Moreano & María Gabriela González Bautista & Juan Pablo Vallejo Mata & Víctor Dante Ayaviri-Nina, 2024. "Is There a Link between Remittances, Capital Formation, Structural Transformation and Economic Growth? A Dynamic Panel Analysis for Latin America under the PVAR Approach," Economies, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-25, May.
    13. Anthony Enisan Akinlo & Michael Segun Ojo, 2021. "Examining the asymmetric effects of oil price shocks on remittances inflows: evidence from Nigeria," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 1(10), pages 1-16, October.
    14. Ben Atta, Oussama & Mughal, Mazhar Yasin & Rey, Serge, 2025. "Migrant remittances and real exchange rate dynamics in developing countries: Evidence of a U-shaped relationship," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    15. Ahmed, Junaid & Martinez-Zarzoso, Inmaculada, 2014. "What drives bilateral remittances to Pakistan? A gravity model approach," University of Göttingen Working Papers in Economics 209, University of Goettingen, Department of Economics.
    16. Aaron Levi Garavito-Acosta & Maria Mercedes Collazos-Gaitan & Manuel Dario Hernandez-Bejarano & Enrique Montes-Uribe, 2019. "Migración internacional y determinantes de las remesas de trabajadores en Colombia," Borradores de Economia 1066, Banco de la Republica de Colombia.
    17. Amar Anwar & Colin F. Mang & Sonia Plaza, 2024. "Remittances and inequality: A meta‐analytic investigation," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(6), pages 2664-2705, June.
    18. Amar Anwar & Colin F. Mang & Sonia Plaza, 2026. "Remittances and the Labor Supply Choices of Recipient Households: Insights From Meta‐Regression Analysis," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 40(1), pages 469-491, February.
    19. Adriana R. Cardozo Silva & Luis R. Diaz Pavez & Inmaculada Martínez‐Zarzoso & Felicitas Nowak‐Lehmann, 2022. "The impact of COVID‐19 government responses on remittances in Latin American countries," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(4), pages 803-822, May.
    20. Farid Makhlouf & Refk Selmi, 2021. "The role of remittances in times of socio-political unrest: Evidence from Tunisia," Working Papers hal-03263815, HAL.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:rdevec:v:29:y:2025:i:1:p:476-498. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=1363-6669 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.