Transnational Families and Remittances:

1
Transnational Families and Remittances

• A Study of Haitian and Jamaican Origin
  Communities in Canada
• Alan Simmons, Dwaine Plaza
• Victor Piché

2

• Preliminary findings!
• Do not cite, quote or reproduce without
  permission from the authors!

3
Map of the Presentation
4
Map of the Presentation

• 1. Background
• 2. Model of Household Remittance Flows
• 3. The Data
• 4. Main Findings
• 5. Policy Issues and Conclusions

5
Map of the Presentation

• 1. Background
• 2. Model of Household Remittance Flows
• 3. The Data
• 4. Main Findings
• 5. Policy Issues and Conclusions

6
Map of the Presentation

• 1. Background
• 2. Model of Household Remittance Flows
• 3. The Data
• 4. Main Findings
• 5. Policy Issues and Conclusions

7
Map of the Presentation

• 1. Background
• 2. Model of Household Remittance Flows
• 3. The Data
• 4. Main Findings
• 5. Policy Issues and Conclusions

8
Map of the Presentation

• 1. Background
• 2. Model of Household Remittance Flows
• 3. The Data
• 4. Main Findings
• 5. Policy Issues and Conclusions

9
Part 1. Background
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Part 1. Background

• Immigration Trends
• Total Remittance Flows
• Goals of the Research

11
Part 1. Background

• Immigration Trends
• Total Remittance Flows
• Goals of the Research

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Part 1. Background

• Immigration Trends
• Total Remittance Flows
• Goals of the Research

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Jamaicans
Haitians
Salvadorians
Guatemalans
Mexicans
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El Salvador
Guatemala
Jamaica
Haiti
Honduras
Guyana
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Goals of the Research
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Goals of the Research

• Gather basic facts
• How much is remitted?
• To whom?
• Through what channels?
• With what transfer costs?
• Assess policy implications
• For financial institutions
• For development programs

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Goals of the Research

• Gather basic facts
• How much is remitted?
• To whom?
• Through what channels?
• With what transfer costs?
• Assess policy implications
• For financial institutions
• For development programs

18
Goals of the Research

• Gather basic facts
• How much is remitted?
• To whom?
• Through what channels?
• With what transfer costs?
• Assess policy implications
• For financial institutions
• For development programs

19
Goals of the Research

• Gather basic facts
• How much is remitted?
• To whom?
• Through what channels?
• With what transfer costs?
• Assess policy implications
• For financial institutions
• For development programs

20
Goals of the Research

• Gather basic facts
• How much is remitted?
• To whom?
• Through what channels?
• With what transfer costs?
• Assess policy implications
• For financial institutions
• For development programs

21
Goals of the Research

• Gather basic facts
• How much is remitted?
• To whom?
• Through what channels?
• With what transfer costs?
• Assess policy implications
• For financial institutions
• For development programs

22
Goals of the Research

• Gather basic facts
• How much is remitted?
• To whom?
• Through what channels?
• With what transfer costs?
• Assess policy implications
• For financial institutions
• For development programs

23
Goals of the Research

• Gather basic facts
• How much is remitted?
• To whom?
• Through what channels?
• With what transfer costs?
• Assess policy implications
• For financial institutions
• For development programs

24
Part 2. The Model
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Part 2. The Model
Resources Motivations
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Part 2. The Model
Resources Motivations
Channels and Barriers
Amounts Remitted
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Part 2. The Model
Resources Motivations
Channels and Barriers
Amounts Remitted
Outcomes for Recipients
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Part 2. The Model
Resources Motivations
Outcomes for Senders
Channels and Barriers
Amounts Remitted
Outcomes for Recipients
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Part 3. The Data

• Survey design
• Questionnaire content

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Survey Design

• Criterion sample of individuals

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Survey Design

• Criterion sample of individuals
• Born in Haiti (Montreal) and Jamaica (Toronto)
• Eighteen years of age or over
• Living in Canada for at least one year
• Knowledgeable of household expenditures
• Both males and females, at all income and
  schooling levels
• In different parts of each city

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Survey Design

• Criterion sample of individuals
• Born in Haiti (Montreal) and Jamaica (Toronto)
• Eighteen years of age or over
• Living in Canada for at least one year
• Knowledgeable of household expenditures
• Both males and females, at all income and
  schooling levels
• In different parts of each city

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Survey Design

• Criterion sample of individuals
• Born in Haiti (Montreal) and Jamaica (Toronto)
• Eighteen years of age or over
• Living in Canada for at least one year
• Knowledgeable of household expenditures
• Both males and females, at all income and
  schooling levels
• In different parts of each city

34
Survey Design

• Criterion sample of individuals
• Born in Haiti (Montreal) and Jamaica (Toronto)
• Eighteen years of age or over
• Living in Canada for at least one year
• Knowledgeable of household expenditures
• Both males and females, at all income and
  schooling levels
• In different parts of each city

35
Survey Design

• Criterion sample of individuals
• Born in Haiti (Montreal) and Jamaica (Toronto)
• Eighteen years of age or over
• Living in Canada for at least one year
• Knowledgeable of household expenditures
• Both males and females, at all income and
  schooling levels
• In different parts of each city

36
Survey Design

• Criterion sample of individuals
• Born in Haiti (Montreal) and Jamaica (Toronto)
• Eighteen years of age or over
• Living in Canada for at least one year
• Knowledgeable of household expenditures
• Both males and females, at all income and
  schooling levels
• In different parts of each city

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Questionnaire
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Questionnaire

• Individual level
• Household level
• Monetary remittances
• Goods (via barrel, etc.)
• Collective-institutional transfers
• Measures of transnational links

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Questionnaire

• Individual level
• Household level
• Monetary remittances
• Goods (via barrel, etc.)
• Collective-institutional transfers
• Measures of transnational links

40
Questionnaire

• Individual level
• Household level
• Monetary remittances
• Goods (via barrel, etc.)
• Collective-institutional transfers
• Measures of transnational links

41
Questionnaire

• Individual level
• Household level
• Monetary remittances
• Goods (via barrel, etc.)
• Collective-institutional transfers
• Measures of transnational links

42
Questionnaire

• Individual level
• Household level
• Monetary remittances
• Goods (via barrel, etc.)
• Collective-institutional transfers
• Measures of transnational links

43
Questionnaire

• Individual level
• Household level
• Monetary remittances
• Goods (via barrel, etc.)
• Collective-institutional transfers
• Measures of transnational links

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Part 4. Findings
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Part 4. Findings

• How much is sent?
• To whom?
• Through what channels?
• With what transfer costs?

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Part 4. Findings

• How much is sent?
• To whom?
• Through what channels?
• With what transfer costs?

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Part 4. Findings

• How much is sent?
• To whom?
• Through what channels?
• With what transfer costs?

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Part 4. Findings

• How much is sent?
• To whom?
• Through what channels?
• With what transfer costs?

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Table 1. Transfers
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Table 1. Transfers
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Table 1. Transfers
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Table 1. Transfers
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Table 1. Transfers
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Table 1. Transfers
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Table 1. Transfers
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Table 1. Transfers
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Table 2. Main Recipients (percents)
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Table 2. Main Recipients (percents)
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Table 2. Main Recipients (percents)
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Table 3. Money Transfer Channels
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Table 3. Money Transfer Channels
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Table 3. Money Transfer Channels
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Table 3. Money Transfer Channels
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Table 3. Money Transfer Channels
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Table 4. Illustrative Transfer Fees
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Table 4. Illustrative Transfer Fees
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Table 4. Illustrative Transfer Fees
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Part 5. Policy Issues

• Who sends remittances?
• Are senders more transnational?
• How much is transferred through
  collective/institutionalized projects?
• How do generation and income levels affect
  remittance practices?
• Etc.

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Table 5. Who sends remittances?

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Table 5. Who sends remittances?

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Table 5. Who sends remittances?

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Table 5. Who sends remittances?

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Chart 4. Total Household Remittances in 2004 by
Household Income Category
Jamaicans
Haitians
Household Income
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Table 6. Transnational Family Contacts
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Table 6. Transnational Family Contacts
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Table 6. Transnational Family Contacts
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Chart 3. Mean Remittances Sent Controlling for
Telephone Contact
Jamaicans
Haitians
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Table 7. Involvement in Transnational Projects
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Table 7. Involvement in Transnational Projects
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Table 7. Involvement in Transnational Projects
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Preliminary Conclusions

• Reduce transfer fees
• Expand financial services
• Tax exemption for remitters
• Promote TN family links
• Strengthen TN community links
• Be sensitive to gender, age and social class
  background of senders

82
Preliminary Conclusions

• Reduce transfer fees
• Expand financial services
• Tax exemption for remitters
• Promote TN family links
• Strengthen TN community links
• Be sensitive to gender, age and social class
  background of senders

83
Preliminary Conclusions

• Reduce transfer fees
• Expand financial services
• Tax exemption for remitters
• Promote TN family links
• Strengthen TN community links
• Be sensitive to gender, age and social class
  background of senders

84
Preliminary Conclusions

• Reduce transfer fees
• Expand financial services
• Tax exemption for remitters
• Promote TN family links
• Strengthen TN community links
• Be sensitive to gender, age and social class
  background of senders

85
Preliminary Conclusions

• Reduce transfer fees
• Expand financial services
• Tax exemption for remitters
• Promote TN family links
• Strengthen TN community links
• Be sensitive to gender, age and social class
  background of senders

86
Preliminary Conclusions

• Reduce transfer fees
• Expand financial services
• Tax exemption for remitters
• Promote TN family links
• Strengthen TN community links
• Be sensitive to gender, age and social class
  background of senders

87
Preliminary Conclusions

• Reduce transfer fees
• Expand financial services
• Tax exemption for remitters
• Promote TN family links
• Strengthen TN community links
• Be sensitive to gender, age and social class
  background of senders

88

• END

89
Acknowledgements

• Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA),
  for project financing
• Centre for Research on Latin America and the
  Caribbean, York University, for institutional
  support.
• Centre DÉtudes Ethniques des Universités
  Montréalaises (CEETUM) and the Département de
  démographie, Université de Montréal, for support
  and collaboration.

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For further details

• Alan Simmons, CERLAC, York University
• asimmons_at_yorku.ca
• Dwaine Plaza, Oregon State U., Corvalis.
  dplaza_at_oregonstate.edu
• Victor Piché, U. of Montreal and Action Canada
  for Population and Development victor.piche_at_umontr
  eal.ca

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Respondents Characteristics
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Table 6. Transnational Family Contacts
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• END END