Does the dual-citizenship recognition determine the level and the utilization of international remittances? Cross-Country Evidence

This paper shows that countries which allow a dual citizenship status for their international migrants receive on average more remittances than others. Using a cross-section of 104 developing countries with data averaged over the period 2000-2008, I distinguish between the direct effect of the dual citizenship status (incentive to remit more) and an indirect effect which passes through migration incentives. Results indicate that the direct effect of the recognition of the dual-citizenship is higher. Finally, the paper shows that remittance inflows are more likely to foster private investment in receiving countries which recognize a dual citizenship status for their migrants. These results are robust to alternative uses of datasets on dual-citizenship codification and to the instrumentation of remittances in the private investment model.Dual-citizenship;Remittances;investment;developing countries

Remittances, Value Added Tax and Tax Revenue in Developing Countries

This paper examines the impact of international remittances on both the level and the instability of government tax revenue in receiving countries. It investigates in particular whether the presence of a value added tax (VAT) system increases the benefit of the inflows of remittances in terms of high and less volatile tax revenue ratio. This is supported by the fact that remittances are largely used for consumption purposes and contribute to smoothing private consumption. Using a large sample of developing countries observed over the period 1980-2006, and even after factoring in the endogeneity of remittances and VAT adoption, the results highlight that remittances significantly increase both the level and the stability of government tax revenue ratio in receiving countries that have adopted the VAT.Remittances, VAT, Tax revenue, Tax Revenue Instability

Remittances, Value Added Tax and Tax Revenue in Developing Countries

This paper examines the impact of international remittances on both the level and the instability of government tax revenue in receiving countries. It investigates in particular whether the presence of a value added tax (VAT) system increases the benefit of the inflows of remittances in terms of high and less volatile tax revenue ratio. This is supported by the fact that remittances are largely used for consumption purposes and contribute to smoothing private consumption. Using a large sample of developing countries observed over the period 1980-2006, and even after factoring in the endogeneity of remittances and VAT adoption, the results highlight that remittances significantly increase both the level and the stability of government tax revenue ratio in receiving countries that have adopted the VAT.Remittances;VAT;Tax revenue;Tax Revenue Instability

The power of Remittances on the Prevalence of Child Labor

This article examines the relationship between migrants' remittances and the prevalence of child labor by using a large sample of developing countries. In particular, we investigate whether the inflows of remittances help to offset the effects of financial constraints and income shocks on the prevalence of child labor. Starting from a simple theoretical model, then based on a sample of 82 developing countries (of which 31 are African) observed in the year 2000 and after taking into account the endogeneity of remittances, migration and financial development, we show that remittances reduce significantly the prevalence of child labor in developing countries characterized by weak financial systems and by strong income instability. However, we have not found a statistically significant relationship between adults' emigration and child labor at home. Policy recommendations for specific strategies to facilitate receipt of remittances by households are more than ever appropriate for a region like Sub-Saharan Africa, which currently receives a small fraction of these funds compared to other developing countries, and where the prevalence of child labor is still a serious issue.Remittances;Financial Development;Income variability;Child Labor;LDCs;instrumental variables

The power of Remittances on the Prevalence of Child Labor

This article examines the relationship between migrants' remittances and the prevalence of child labor by using a large sample of developing countries. In particular, we investigate whether the inflows of remittances help to offset the effects of financial constraints and income shocks on the prevalence of child labor. Starting from a simple theoretical model, then based on a sample of 82 developing countries (of which 31 are African) observed in the year 2000 and after taking into account the endogeneity of remittances, migration and financial development, we show that remittances reduce significantly the prevalence of child labor in developing countries characterized by weak financial systems and by strong income instability. However, we have not found a statistically significant relationship between adults’ emigration and child labor at home. Policy recommendations for specific strategies to facilitate receipt of remittances by households are more than ever appropriate for a region like Sub-Saharan Africa, which currently receives a small fraction of these funds compared to other developing countries, and where the prevalence of child labor is still a serious issue.Remittances, Financial Development, Income variability, Child Labor, LDCs, instrumental variables

The Effect of Remittances on Child Labor: Cross-Country Evidence

This paper examines the relationship between migrants remittances and the prevalence of child labor by using a large sample of developing countries. In particular, we investigate whether the inflow of remittances helps to offset the effects of financial constraints and income shocks on the prevalence of child labor. From on a sample of 82 developing countries (of which 31 are African) observed in the year 2000 and after taking into account the endogeneity of remittances, migration and financial development, we show that remittances reduce significantly the prevalence of child labor in developing countries characterized by weak financial systems and by strong income instability. However, we have not found a statistically significant relationship between adults emigration and child labor at home.Remittances, Financial development, Income variability, Child labor, Instrumental variables

Does VAT reduce the instability of tax revenues?

In this study, we examine whether or not the adoption of value-added tax (VAT) in developing countries is an effective way of stabilising tax revenues. Using a large panel of 103 developing countries observed over 1980-2008 and several alternative estimation methods in order to deal with the self-selection bias and the endogeneity issue inherent in VAT adoption, we found robust evidence that the presence of VAT leads to significantly lower tax revenue instability. On average, countries with VAT experience 40-50% less tax revenue instability than countries which do not have a VAT system. These effects decrease with the level of economic development and the openness of trade.Tax Instability, Value Added Tax, Macroeconomic Fluctuations

Tax Revenue Instability in Sub-Saharan Africa: Consequences and Remedies

This paper focuses on the sources and consequences of the instability of tax revenue in Sub-Saharan African countries. We take advantage of a unique and extraordinarily rich dataset on the composition of tax revenues for a large number of countries. Using panel data for 39 countries observed over the period 1980-2005, our results are threefold. Firstly, the instability of government tax revenue leads to an instability of both the public investment and government consumption, and finally, reduces the level of public investment. Secondly, foreign aid inflows appear to be an effective insurance mechanism against the instability of tax revenue by lowering the sensitivity of public investment with respect to tax revenue shocks. Finally, the reliance on domestic indirect taxation-based systems seems more stabilizing than the dependency on trade tax revenue.Tax Instability;Tax Composition;public spending;foreign aid;Sub-Saharan Africa

Remittances, Public Health Spending and Foreign Aid in the Access to Health Care Services in Developing Countries

The aim of this paper is to analyze the respective impacts of remittances, health aid and public spending on the access to health care services in developing countries. The specific objectives are threefold. Firstly, we quantify the differential impacts of remittances on the access to public and private health care services. Secondly, we determine whether remittances and foreign health aid are complements or substitutes in the access to health care services. Lastly, we evaluate the heterogeneity of the impact of remittances in the access to public and private health care services by quintile of income. We provide a rigorous econometric analysis by controlling for the endogeneity of remittances, public spending and foreign aid. We find that remittances, health aid and public spending are important determinants of access to health services in recipients’ countries. Another interesting result comes from the fact that, remittances lead to a sectorial glide in the uses of health care services from the public to the private sector for the intermediate income class. This result holds also for the richer quintiles that are the major recipients of remittances in developing countries. Moreover, remittances and foreign health aid are complements for the access to health care services in “low” income countries. Finally, these results suggest that policies aiming at increasing remittances are appropriate for developing countries but also that, the “optimal” therapy for the “low” income countries is the combination of remittances and foreign aid.Remittances, health aid, public spending, access to health care services, developing countries, instrumental variables method

Tax Revenue Instability in Sub-Saharan Africa: Consequences and Remedies

This paper focuses on the sources and consequences of the instability of tax revenue in Sub-Saharan African countries. We take advantage of a unique and extraordinarily rich dataset on the composition of tax revenues for a large number of countries. Using panel data for 39 countries observed over the period 1980-2005, our results are threefold. Firstly, the instability of government tax revenue leads to an instability of both the public investment and government consumption, and finally, reduces the level of public investment. Secondly, foreign aid inflows appear to be an effective insurance mechanism against the instability of tax revenue by lowering the sensitivity of public investment with respect to tax revenue shocks. Finally, the reliance on domestic indirect taxation-based systems seems more stabilizing than the dependency on trade tax revenue.Tax Instability, Tax Composition, public spending, foreign aid, Sub-Saharan Africa