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Do Remittances Enhance Financial Inclusion in LMICs and in Fragile States?

Author

Listed:
  • Sami Ben Naceur
  • Mr. Ralph Chami
  • Mohamed Trabelsi

Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between remittances and financial inclusion for a sample of 187 countries over the period 2004-2015, using cross-country as well as dynamic panel GMM regressions. At low levels of remittances-to-GDP, these flows act as a substitute to formal financial channels, thereby reducing financial inclusion. In contrast, when remittance-to-GDP ratio is high, above 13% on average, they tend to complement formal access and usage channels, thus enhancing financial inclusion. This “U shaped” relationship highlights the role of remittance flows in financing household consumption at low levels, while raising formal household bank savings and allowing for more intermediation, at high levels of remittance-to-GDP.

Suggested Citation

  • Sami Ben Naceur & Mr. Ralph Chami & Mohamed Trabelsi, 2020. "Do Remittances Enhance Financial Inclusion in LMICs and in Fragile States?," IMF Working Papers 2020/066, International Monetary Fund.
    • Handle: RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2020/066
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Julia Bersch & Jean François Clevy & Naseem Muhammad & Mrs. Esther Perez Ruiz & Mr. Yorbol Yakhshilikov, 2021. "Fintech Potential for Remittance Transfers: A Central America Perspective," IMF Working Papers 2021/175, International Monetary Fund.
    2. Martina Metzger & Jennifer Pédussel Wu, 2020. "Moving Minds and Money: The Political Economy of Migrant Transfers," ICDD Working Papers 33, University of Kassel, Fachbereich Gesellschaftswissenschaften (Social Sciences), Internatioanl Center for Development and Decent Work (ICDD).
    3. SPEIAN Olesea, 2021. "Financial Inclusion In The Republic Of Moldova: Recent Impacts And Evidence," Revista Economica, Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Faculty of Economic Sciences, vol. 73(Special), pages 290-300, December.
    4. Hannes Warnecke-Berger, 2022. "The financialization of remittances and the individualization of development: A new power geometry of global development," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 54(4), pages 702-721, June.
    5. Emara, Noha & Zhang, Yuanhao, 2021. "The non-linear impact of digitization on remittances inflow: Evidence from the BRICS," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(4).

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