Remittances and Gender: Theoretical Considerations and Empirical Evidence

38 Pages Posted: 7 Feb 2011

See all articles by Elke Holst

Elke Holst

German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin); German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) - German Socio Economic Panel

Andrea Schäfer

German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin)

Mechthild Schrooten

German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin)

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: January 1, 2011

Abstract

In this paper, we focus on network- and gender-specific determinants of remittances, which are often explained theoretically by way of intra-family contracts. We develop a basic formal concept that includes aspects of the transnational network and derive hypotheses from it. For our empirical investigation, we use data from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP) for the years 2001-2006. Our findings show: first, the fact that foreign women remit less money than foreign men can be explained by the underlying transnational network contract. Second, remittances sent by foreigners and naturalized immigrants have at least partly different determinants. Acquiring German citizenship increases the probability of family reunification in the destination country and decreases remittances. Third, the structure of the existing social network in Germany and the network structure in the home country both play important roles in explaining remittances.

Keywords: remittances, gender, foreigners, naturalized migrants

JEL Classification: F22, J16, D13

Suggested Citation

Holst, Elke and Schäfer, Andrea and Schrooten, Mechthild, Remittances and Gender: Theoretical Considerations and Empirical Evidence (January 1, 2011). IZA Discussion Paper No. 5472, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1756010 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1756010

Elke Holst (Contact Author)

German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) ( email )

Mohrenstraße 58
Berlin, 10117
Germany

German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) - German Socio Economic Panel ( email )

DIW Berlin
Berlin, Berlin 14191
Germany

Andrea Schäfer

German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) ( email )

Mohrenstraße 58
Berlin, 10117
Germany

Mechthild Schrooten

German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) ( email )

Mohrenstraße 58
Berlin, 10117
Germany
+49 30 89789 344 (Phone)
+49 30 89789 108 (Fax)

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