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The Role of Remittances in Household Spending in Rural Nepal

Author

Listed:
  • Resham Thapa-Parajuli

    (Central Department of Economics, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal)

  • Tilak Kshetri

    (Central Department of Economics, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal)

  • Sanjit Singh Thapa

    (College of Business, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA)

Abstract

Foreign remittances have become a crucial component of the Nepalese economy. This study investigates the impact of remittances on household consumption patterns in rural Nepal using data from the World Bank’s Nepal Household Risk and Vulnerability (NHRV) Survey Panel, covering the period from 2016 to 2018. Employing an instrumental variable regression approach, we estimate the elasticity of remittances to various consumption categories. Our findings indicate that foreign remittances significantly affect total consumption expenditure. Disaggregated results reveal that remittances positively influence spending on food items and non-food categories such as education and healthcare, highlighting their role in enhancing nutrition and human capital development. However, remittances do not contribute to unproductive expenditures like tobacco, alcohol, or rituals. Therefore, other things remaining the same, remittance is enhancing welfare in rural Nepali households.

Suggested Citation

  • Resham Thapa-Parajuli & Tilak Kshetri & Sanjit Singh Thapa, 2025. "The Role of Remittances in Household Spending in Rural Nepal," Economies, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-23, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jecomi:v:13:y:2025:i:6:p:163-:d:1673091
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Adams Jr., Richard H. & Cuecuecha, Alfredo, 2010. "Remittances, Household Expenditure and Investment in Guatemala," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 38(11), pages 1626-1641, November.
    2. Nirmal Kumar Raut & Ryuichi Tanaka, 2018. "Parental absence, remittances and educational investment in children left behind: Evidence from Nepal," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(4), pages 1642-1666, November.
    3. Yogeeswari Subramaniam & Tajul Ariffin Masron & Nik Hadiyan Nik Azman, 2021. "Remittances and food security," Journal of Economic Studies, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 49(4), pages 699-715, May.
    4. Sridevi Yerrabati, 2024. "Path to achieving SDG 8: do worker remittances reduce vulnerable employment?," Journal of Economic Studies, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 52(3), pages 500-517, June.
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