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Evolution of Remittances to CAPDR Countries and Mexico During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Author:
Aleksandra Babii
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Ms. Alina Carare
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Dmitry Vasilyev null

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Mr. Yorbol Yakhshilikov
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Series:
IMF Working Papers
Volume/Issue:
Volume 2022: Issue 092
Language:
English
Publication Date:
13 May 2022
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5089/9798400210150.001
ISBN:
9798400210150
ISSN:
1018-5941
Pages:
32
Keywords:
COVID-19 pandemic; migrant remittances; international migration; remittances dynamics; B. panel Vector Autoregression Model; remittances growth; evolution of remittance; remittances to CAPDR country; Remittances; Real wages; COVID-19; Migration; Unemployment; Central America
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Traditional models relying on standard variables like the U.S. Hispanic unemployment rate fared well in explaining remittances to CAPDR and Mexico during the pre-pandemic period. However, they fail to predict the sustained growth in remittances since June 2020, including the significant increase in the average amount remitted. Using data from over 300 remittances corridors (from 23 U.S. states to 14 Salvadoran departments), we find that this increase is primarily explained by the dynamics of U.S. states real wages, as well as more temporary factors like U.S. unemployment relief (including the extraordinary pandemic support), U.S. states mobility, and COVID-19 infections at home. The paper also analyses what role the change in the modes of transmission of remittances, additional U.S. fiscal stimulus and U.S. labor market developments, especially in the sectors were CAPDR and Mexican migrants preponderantly work, play in explaining aggregate remittances growth.
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Cover IMF Working Papers
IMF Working Papers
ISSN:
1018-5941
Publisher:
International Monetary Fund