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Do remittances increase borrowing?

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  • Ambrosius, Christian
  • Cuecuecha, Alfredo

Abstract

While recent literature has pointed out that migrants´ remittances have a positive impact on savings with financial institutions, findings with respect to access to and the use of loans have been ambiguous. This paper investigates whether the reception of remittances facilitates taking up loans from formal or informal sources among Mexican households and finds positive and statistically significant effects of remittances on borrowing and on the existence of debts. We address methodological concerns of selection bias and reverse causality through household fixed effects and an instrumental strategy that exploits distance to train lines and labor market conditions in the US as exogenous determinants of remittances.

Suggested Citation

  • Ambrosius, Christian & Cuecuecha, Alfredo, 2014. "Do remittances increase borrowing?," Discussion Papers 2014/19, Free University Berlin, School of Business & Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:fubsbe:201419
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Ambrosius, Christian & Cuecuecha, Alfredo, 2013. "Are Remittances a Substitute for Credit? Carrying the Financial Burden of Health Shocks in National and Transnational Households," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 143-152.
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    Cited by:

    1. Peist, Moritz Manuel, 2023. "Original sin and the CFA Franc: A case study of the West African Economic and Monetary Union," IPE Working Papers 210/2023, Berlin School of Economics and Law, Institute for International Political Economy (IPE).
    2. Christian Ambrosius, 2016. "Remittances and Financial Access: Is There Really a Link and for Whom? Evidence from Mexican Household Data," The World Economy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(7), pages 964-982, July.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • F24 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Remittances
    • D14 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Household Saving; Personal Finance
    • I15 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Economic Development
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development

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