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The effects of remittances on poverty and inequality: Evidence from rural southern Morocco

Author

Listed:
  • Jamal Bouoiyour

    () (CATT - Centre d'Analyse Théorique et de Traitement des données économiques - UPPA - Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour)

  • Amal Miftah

    (LEDA-DIAL - Développement, Institutions et Modialisation - LEDa - Laboratoire d'Economie de Dauphine - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - Université Paris-Dauphine - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

In this paper, we examine the effect of migrants' remittances on poverty and inequality. The survey data were collected in Morocco, in the rural areas of the region Souss-Massa-Draa. By applying an original approach, we estimate the counterfactual income of remittance-recipient households corresponding to a hypothetical value of its average income calculated for a scenario without remittances; this is then compared with its current income. We find that the poverty rate and the vulnerability of non-poor households are significantly dropped due to remittances. Our findings also suggest that remittance inflows have increased income inequality compared to the no-migration counterfactual situation.

Suggested Citation

  • Jamal Bouoiyour & Amal Miftah, 2014. "The effects of remittances on poverty and inequality: Evidence from rural southern Morocco," Working Papers hal-01880333, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:hal-01880333
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal-univ-pau.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01880333
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Kimberly Beaton & Svetlana Cerovic & Misael Galdamez & Metodij Hadzi-Vaskov & Franz Loyola & Zsoka Koczan & Bogdan Lissovolik & Jan Kees Martijn & Yulia Ustyugova & Joyce Wong, 2017. "Migration and Remittances in Latin America and the Caribbean; Engines of Growth and Macroeconomic Stabilizers?," IMF Working Papers 17/144, International Monetary Fund.
    2. Bouoiyour, Jamal & Miftah, Amal & Selmi, Refk, 2014. "Do Financial Flows raise or reduce Economic growth Volatility? Some Lessons from Moroccan case," MPRA Paper 57258, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Zsoka Koczan & Franz Loyola, 2018. "How Do Migration and Remittances Affect Inequality? A Case Study of Mexico," IMF Working Papers 18/136, International Monetary Fund.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Poverty; Income distribution; Remittances; Morocco;

    JEL classification:

    • D31 - Microeconomics - - Distribution - - - Personal Income and Wealth Distribution
    • F24 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Remittances
    • I32 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Measurement and Analysis of Poverty
    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O55 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - Africa

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