Reduction of Poverty via Remittance: An Analysis of Fiji’s Rural Households

Abstract

Remittance has been a global phenomenon and has built practical consensus. Remittances have supported financially to many individuals. An early migrant who has left the host nation and is living in a foreign country returns to their society or family members. In Fiji, almost 30 percent live below the national poverty line, which has worsened after the impact of COVID-19. Most of them reside in informal settlements with a lack of housing amenities. The article will explore the impact of remittance on poor people who receive money from families abroad and how these households manage the funds received. Generally, it is understood that remittance has a positive impact on alleviating poverty. Therefore, the paper will explore whether remittance has significantly enabled households to reduce poverty. The paper will investigate ways to analyse the significance, such as if requesting remittance plays a crucial role. To determine the remittance sent, the paper tries to find if it is based on the request made or sent by their own will. To assess the impact of remittance, the paper will analyse primary (survey) data and determine the real purpose of remittance usage by households living in poverty. The paper evaluates 159 households living in informal settlements and rural areas.

Analysing Fiji’s Budget amid COVID-19 – A Fiscal Overdrive without Hope

“…It has also caused massive damage to the economy. The skilled migration especially Indo-Fijian migration skyrocketed (Gosai & Deo, 2023). Since then, Fiji has faced numerous political instabilities, which caused damage to our economy, causing an economic downturn, especially to our historical sugar industry contribution.…”

“…During the ravaging impact of COVID-19, individuals mainly survived on remittances sent to them by their family members living abroad (Gosai & Deo, 2023). According to IMF, in 2022, the index of economic freedom score for Fiji is 56.4, ranked 111 in the globe.…”