Migration and Development
How migration shapes developing economies through remittances, brain drain, diaspora networks, and the political economy of borders.
The Remittance Lifeline
In 2023, migrants sent over $650 billion in remittances to low- and middle-income countries -- roughly three times total official development assistance. For some countries, remittances are the economic lifeline: they constitute over 30% of GDP in Tonga, Lebanon, and Tajikistan. In the Philippines, over 10 million overseas workers send money home that funds education, healthcare, and housing for millions of families.
Remittances differ from aid in important ways. They flow directly to families, bypassing corrupt governments. They are countercyclical in the sending country -- migrants send more when their families face hardship. And they come with information: diaspora members share knowledge of business practices, technologies, and market opportunities that can spur innovation and entrepreneurship back home.