Gender-specific patterns in remittance behaviours in MIDEQ countries

This paper was authored by Lorraine Wong and Elizabeth Weathersby of the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Abstract

Extensive literature on remittances indicates women tend to allocate remittances towards their children and healthcare, while men often spend on consumables. Using data from the MIDEQ survey in 2021 from migrants in Brazil, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Haiti, we present descriptive evidence of gender-specific remittance patterns across countries. Contrary to the literature, we do not observe a clear relationship between the gender of the remitter and the receiving household member. The origin data collected from migrant households (in Burkina Faso and Haiti) reveal that remittances sent by migrant men are more often spent on savings, capital, durable goods, and major life events, with no significant gender difference in human capital allocation. The destination data collected from remitters (in Brazil, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana) reveal no discernible gender difference in remittance allocation. Overall, we reveal mixed evidence of gender differences across countries and confirm the positive impact of remittance on household savings and human capital investments.

Related content

Diaspora finance for development: from remittances to investment

The study highlights the broad diversity of diaspora finance mechanisms around the world, while also drawing attention to the lack of systematic international data on diaspora investment flows and to the severe shortage of quality evidence on the development outcomes of different diaspora finance initiatives.
Read more

The growing Ghana-China migration flows: consequences for Ghana’s development and migrant household wellbeing

While Ghana-China migration has the potential to enhance livelihoods, reduce poverty and smoothen social inequalities, this is conditioned on institutional, policy and behavioural factors being streamlined.
Read more

Remittances and transformations in funerary practices among the Hadiya

The importance of South-South Migration for the welfare of individuals and communities, and how remittance flows affect (or are affected by) (in)equality dynamics in sending areas are yet to be explored critically. This blog explores the ways in which migration, mediated by remittances, influences and brings about change to important cultural practices in Southern Ethiopia.
Read more