Migration and remittances in the CEECs: a case study of Ukrainian labour migrants in the Czech Republic

This paper aims to analyse migration and remittances in Central and Eastern European countries (CEECs) on the case study of Ukrainian labour migrants in the Czech Republic using primary data from survey questionnaires collected by the Ukrainian Migration Project (UMP). More specifically, it seeks to examine features and determinants of migration and remittances sent by Ukrainian labour migrants from the Czech Republic to Ukraine. Our results show that in the case of Ukrainian migrants in the Czech Republic the main determinants of the decision whether to migrate, in order to provide own families with additional income, are demographic characteristics and income of the receiving household, while the level of education does not affect this decision. Further, we found that the remitted amount depends mainly on the labour migrant’s income in the Czech Republic. No statistical significance was found in the relationship between the remitted amount and the income level of the receiving household. Moreover, we did not find any support for channelling remittances primarily into non-productive consumption in the data. On the other hand, no other productive spending besides the spending on house construction was confirmed either. Good understanding of determinants and motives that are interconnected with them should be helpful for policymakers on both sides of the migration corridor to formulate proper policies that aim at influencing the migration and remittances flows. Thus, certain policy implications might be derived from this research in order to channel Ukrainian migration in CEECs and benefit from remittance transfers.