Refugee Remittances: Conceptual Issues and the Cuban and Nicaraguan Experiences

Abstract

"This article assesses the notion that the determinants of remittances generated by refugee flows, particularly from Communist-inspired systems, are different from those associated with labor migrations....These differences have a major bearing on how labor migrants and refugees perceive their relationship with countries of origin. The propensity of labor migrants to dissociate themselves from the home country is considerably less than among refugees whose perceptions are mediated by opposition to the ruling regime and other factors, such as political relations between refugee-sending and refugee-receiving countries and whether or not there has been a regime change or one is expected to occur. The conceptual issues elaborated here are based on the Cuban-American experience, but also reflect an assessment of Nicaraguan emigration during the 1980s."

The Human Capital Characteristics and Household Living Standards of Returning International Migrants in Eastern and Southern Africa

“…For example, forced migrants may increase their pursuit of educational achievement in societies that emphasize the importance of education as a means for achieving social mobility (Zhou and Bankston, 2001). Some studies also indicate that most forced migrants in exile in the developed world accumulate savings using traditional and non‐traditional means and also sometimes send remittances to family members at home (Diaz‐Briquets and Prez‐Lopez, 1997; Johnson, 1989; Johnson, 1999). African exiles based in neighbouring countries however face levels of deprivation that are even higher than what they would have faced at home (Hatton and Williamson, 2002).…”

How Does Migration Affect Local Development? What Mexico's Experience Tells Us

“…At the same time, others hold that these projects have positive effects on their own and that they build capacity in the communities. By organizing to complete a project, particularly one that requires interacting with the government to get matching funds, communities develop organizational skills that were not present previously (Díaz-Briquets and Pérez-López 1997;Vertovec 2004).…”

Cuba's Unique Remittance Landscape: A Comparative Perspective

“…In addition to "altruism" and "self interest," there are other factors that influence remittance behavior. According to Díaz-Briquets & Pérez-López (1997), remittance flows are sensitive to economic and political conditions in both the home and host countries. In general, the propensity to remit tends to increase as economic conditions in the home country worsen, ceteris paribus (El Sakka & McNabb, 1999).…”

“…Remittances typically increase after family members experience illness and/or the loss of employment, and when the home country suffers from devastating natural disasters (de la Brière et al, 2002;Stark & Lucas, 1988). Remittance behavior is also influenced by the senders' motivation to migrate (Díaz-Briquets & Pérez-López , 1997), their status in the host country, the length of time away from home, the frequency of communications with relatives in the home country (Massey & Basem, 1992), and whether or not they plan to return (Díaz-Briquets & Pérez-López , 1997;Menjivar et al, 1998).…”