Exchange-rate uncertainty and workers' remittances

Abstract

A panel of nine Western Hemisphere nations is employed to test the proposition that the remittances of immigrants respond to risk variables, in particular to exchange-rate uncertainty. To estimate annual exchange-rate uncertainty, a nonparametric estimator based on monthly exchange rate returns is used. Also the instrumental variables procedure of Pagan and Ullah (Journal of Applied Econometrics, 3, 87–105, 1988) is employed to insure that the conclusions are robust to possible error in the measurement of exchange-rate uncertainty. The results give credence to the ‘new economics of migration’ approach which argues that immigrants are highly motivated by portfolio variables.