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Remittances, Financial Development, and Growth

Author

Listed:
  • Marta Ruiz-Arranz
  • Ms. Paola Giuliano

Abstract

There has been little systematic empirical study on the relationship between remittances and growth. This paper attempts to examine this relationship. Using a newly constructed crosscountry of data series for remittances covering a large sample of developing countries, we relate the interaction between remittances and financial development and its impact on growth. We analyze how a country's capacity to use remittances and its effectiveness in doing so might be influenced by local financial sector conditions. Given the difficulty of borrowing in developing countries, we explore the hypothesis that remittances can substitute for a lack of financial development and hence promote growth. The empirical analysis shows that remittances can promote growth in less financially developed countries. This relationship controls for the endogeneity of remittances and financial development using a Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) approach, does not depend on the particular measure of financial sector development used, and is robust to a number of sensitivity tests.

Suggested Citation

  • Marta Ruiz-Arranz & Ms. Paola Giuliano, 2005. "Remittances, Financial Development, and Growth," IMF Working Papers 2005/234, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2005/234
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    WP; remittance; balance of payments; impact of remittance; remittance variable;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F22 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Migration
    • F43 - International Economics - - Macroeconomic Aspects of International Trade and Finance - - - Economic Growth of Open Economies
    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance

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