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Explore updated data on remittance flows between countries, highlighting migration patterns and key findings. Discuss the OECD's approach to improving remittance data.
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Bilateral flows of remittances Agenda Item 20 c Fabiana Cerasa OECD Statistics Directorate …, STD/SES/TAGS; 1stWPTGS Meeting 22.-24.09.2008, Paris
Introduction • Update of the OECD paper “Working abroad – the benefits flowing from nationals working in other economies” (OECD 2003) by Anne Harrison, et al • Data presented for reference year 2000 have been updated to 2005 • The present work is divided in two parts: • Migration: a bilateral migration matrix is estimated starting from the matrix presented in the World Bank report South-South, Migration and Remittances • Remittances: the bilateral migration matrix is used to obtain a global picture of the size of remittances flowing from one country to another
Migration • Starting point: the World Bank bilateral migration matrix • Some transformations to improve the quality of data and to follow the original paper • Removal of refugees (UN) and of migrants who acquired citizenships (OECD database 2007) • Allocation of migrants living in middle/high income countries, whose countries of origin are totally unknown (Development Research Centre on Migration, Globalization and Poverty-University of Sussex-2000)
Remittances • Source of data: • IMF Balance of Payments Yearbook • Additional sources for no declaring countries World Bank Migration and Remittances Factbook World Bank South-South Migration and Remittances OECD Statistics on International Trade National sources • Remittances=Workers’ Remitt + Compensation of Employees • We end up with a total amount of Remittances: • Credit: $ 234.1 bn • Debit: $ 187.1 bn
Remittances • The bilateral remittances matrix is built multiplying the remittance per capita sent from the destination country by the number of migrants living there grouped by country of origin • The final matrix shows remittances flowing between 60 countries and 18 regions • Assumptions of the model: • Each migrant is supposed to send a fixed amount of money home, regardless of the country of origin • Only migrants send money to another country • The country receiving the money sent is always and exclusively the country of birth
Conclusions • With exceptions, contrast between the OECD and ROW • OECD: source of remittances • ROW: destination of remittances • Contrary to what is commonly believed • OECD are not the main destination for migrants coming from ROW • Migrants remain mainly in the continent in which they were born • Migrants from OECD countries command higher wages and remit more per head than migrants from ROW countries • In line with conclusions for 2000 • The quality of the data limits the validity of these conclusions
Questions for discussion • Do delegates agree to the distribution of the remittances questionnaire to (non_EU) OECD and accession countries, using Eurostat information for EU countries? • Comments are invited please on the draft report on estimated bilateral flows at annex 2 (including any written comments by 15 October) • Do delegates wish to comment on any other aspect of the current approach of the OECD Statistics Directorate, outlined above, to try to assist the international effort to improve remittances data?