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Remittances and Informal Work

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  • Ivlevs, Artjoms

    (University of the West of England, Bristol)

Abstract

This paper studies the effects of remittances on informal employment in the migrants' countries of origin, looking both at the remittance-receiving and non-migrant households. Using data from the Social Exclusion Survey, conducted in six transition economies in 2009, I find that receiving remittances increases the likelihood of working informally. At the regional level, high prevalence of remittances is associated with a higher likelihood of informal work among non-migrant households. Migration and remittances may thus be contributing to informal employment in migration-sending countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Ivlevs, Artjoms, 2016. "Remittances and Informal Work," IZA Discussion Papers 10196, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp10196
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    Cited by:

    1. Mr. Ben Kelmanson & Koralai Kirabaeva & Leandro Medina & Borislava Mircheva & Jason Weiss, 2019. "Explaining the Shadow Economy in Europe: Size, Causes and Policy Options," IMF Working Papers 2019/278, International Monetary Fund.
    2. Gaston Brice Nkoumou Ngoa, 2022. "Do remittances affect labor market outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 42(2), pages 303-316.
    3. Mr. Ralph Chami & Ernst Ekkehard & Connel Fullenkamp & Anne Oeking, 2018. "Are Remittances Good for Labor Markets in LICs, MICs and Fragile States?," IMF Working Papers 2018/102, International Monetary Fund.
    4. Schneider, Friedrich & Khan, Shabeer & Baharom Abdul Hamid & Khan, Abidullah, 2019. "Does the tax undermine the effect of remittances on shadow economy?," Economics Discussion Papers 2019-67, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    5. Indra Kant Bharti & Tulika Tripathi, 2020. "Effect of Remittance on Intergenerational Mobility in Case of Occupation," The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Springer;The Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), vol. 63(4), pages 1203-1221, December.
    6. Selçuk Akçay & Emre Karabulutoğlu, 2021. "Do remittances moderate financial development–informality nexus in North Africa?," African Development Review, African Development Bank, vol. 33(1), pages 166-179, March.
    7. Balde, Racky, 2021. "Financial development and small firms’ tax compliance in Sub-Saharan Africa," MERIT Working Papers 2021-041, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    8. Okello,Jimmy Apaa & Brownbridge,Martin & Canagarajah,Roy S., 2021. "Have Remittances Affected Real Unit Labor Costs in the Transition Economies of Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia ?," Policy Research Working Paper Series 9513, The World Bank.
    9. Kpognon, Koffi D., 2022. "Effect of Natural Resources on the Size of Informal Economy in sub-Saharan Africa: An Empirical Investigation," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 1-14.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • F24 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Remittances
    • J46 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Informal Labor Market
    • J61 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Mobility, Unemployment, Vacancies, and Immigrant Workers - - - Geographic Labor Mobility; Immigrant Workers
    • R23 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Regional Migration; Regional Labor Markets; Population
    • O17 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Formal and Informal Sectors; Shadow Economy; Institutional Arrangements

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