Workers' remittancs and economic activity: the case of the Philippines
Date
2011-10
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Abstract
The Philippines has consistently received huge amounts of remittances in recent years. This has been a direct consequence of the increasing number of OFWs and professionals who live and work abroad. While this may be beneficial to the country as remittances are considered thus far to be a stable source of foreign earnings, its flip-side is the brain and skills drain that represent considerable costs to the country. The real net effect of remittances appears inconclusive with some empirical studies purporting the positive contribution of remittances to the economy but also others showing the downside. This paper examines the role of remittances in the Philippine economy by looking into each component of GDP, namely, consumption, investments, government expenditures, and net exports. The paper hopes to identify the channels through which remittances can optimize their effect on GDP.
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Keywords
Workers, Remittances