Remittances and Chain Migration: Longitudinal Evidence from Bosnia and Herzegovina

24 Pages Posted: 30 Mar 2009

See all articles by Ralitza D. Dimova

Ralitza D. Dimova

Brunel University London - Economics and Finance; IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Francois-Charles Wolff

University of Nantes

Abstract

Most of the literature on remittances has focused on their implications for the welfare of family members in the country of origin and has disregarded the possibility for remittances to trigger chain migration. In this paper, we address this issue with the use of longitudinal data from Bosnia and Herzegovina, one of the primary exporters of migrants and recipients of remittances in the world. Our panel data estimates indicate that remittances have a significant positive impact on the migration prospects of those remaining in the country of origin. Highly educated, healthy and young individuals are those most likely to migrate, suggesting that the implications of prospective migration on both the labor market and the rest of the economy in the origin country are likely to be negative.

Keywords: emigration intentions, Bosnia and Herzegovina, remittances

JEL Classification: J61, 015

Suggested Citation

Dimova, Ralitza D. and Wolff, Francois-Charles, Remittances and Chain Migration: Longitudinal Evidence from Bosnia and Herzegovina. IZA Discussion Paper No. 4083, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1369829 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1369829

Ralitza D. Dimova (Contact Author)

Brunel University London - Economics and Finance ( email )

Uxbridge UB8 3PH
United Kingdom

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Schaumburg-Lippe-Str. 7 / 9
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Francois-Charles Wolff

University of Nantes ( email )

1, quai de Tourville BP
Nantes Cedex 1
Nantes, 44313
France