Prospects - Migration and remittances publications

This page summarizes briefs, working papers, and books published by the Migration and Remittances Unit of the World Bank.

Migration and Remittances Briefs

These briefs are informal notes for Bank staff on the development implications of current migration and remittances issues. They highlight emerging trends or topical issues, and are issued every second month (or more frequently if the occasion demands). Contributions are greatly welcome.

Migration and Remittances Brief 20. Officially recorded remittance flows to developing countries reached an estimated $401 billion in 2012.

Migration and Remittances Brief 19. Remittances to developing countries will surpass $400 billion in 2012.

Migration and Remittances Brief 18. Remittance Flows in 2011: an Update

Migration and Remittances Brief 17. Outlook for Remittance Flows 2012-2014: Remittance flows to developing countries exceed $350 billion in 2011.

Migration and Remittances Brief 16. Outlook for Remittance Flows 2011-13: Remittance flows recover to pre-crisis levels

Migration and Development Brief 15. Role of Post Offices in Remittances and Financial Inclusion.

Migration and Development Brief 14. Preliminary Estimates of Diaspora Savings.

Migration and Development Brief 13. Outlook for Remittance Flows 2011-12: Recovery after the crisis, but risks lie ahead.

Migration and Development Brief 12. Outlook for Remittance Flows 2010-11: Remittance flows to developing countries remained resilient in 2009, expected to recover during 2010-11.

Migration and Development Brief 11. A better-than-expected outcome for migration and remittance flows in 2009, but significant risks ahead.

Migration and Development Brief 10. Outlook for Remittance Flows 2009-2011.

Migration and Development Brief 9. Revised Outlook for Remittance Flows 2009-2011: Remittances expected to fall by 5 to 8 percent in 2009.

Migration and Development Brief 8. Outlook for Remittance Flows 2008-2010: Growth expected to moderate significantly, but flows to remain resilient.

Migration and Development Brief 7. Protecting Temporary Workers: Migrant Welfare Funds from Developing Countries.

Migration and Development Brief 6. Managing Migration: Lessons from the Philippines.

Migration and Development Brief 5. Revisions to Remittance Trends 2007.

Remittances Dispatch.

Migration and Development Brief 4. International Migration and Technological Progress.

Migration and Development Brief 3. Recorded remittances to developing countries are estimated to reach $240 billion in 2007.

Migration and Development Brief 2. Remittance flows to developing countries to approach $200 billion in 2006.

Migration and Development Brief 1. U.S. immigration reform: some development implications.

Working papers

Irving, Jacqueline, Sanket Mohapatra and Dilip Ratha. 2008. Findings from a Survey of Central Banks. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No 194.

Ratha, Dilip, Sanket Mohapatra, and Sonia Plaza. 2008. Beyond Aid: New Sources and Innovative Mechanisms for Financing Development in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Adams, Jr., Richard H., Alfredo Cuecuecha, and John Page. 2008. Remittances, consumption and investment in Ghana. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No 4515.

Ratha, Dilip, Prabal De and Sanket Mohapatra. 2007. Shadow Sovereign Ratings for Unrated Developing Countries. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 4269.

Ketkar, Suhas and Dilip Ratha. 2007. Development Finance via Diaspora Bonds: Track Record and Potential.

Ratha, Dilip. 2007. Leveraging Remittances for Development.

Ratha, Dilip, and William Shaw. 2007. South-South Migration and Remittances. World Bank, Washington, D.C.

Ratha, Dilip, 2007. Why Should Financial Institutions Care about Remittances?

Background papers for Global Economic Prospects 2006:

Lowell, B. Lindsay, and Stefka G. Gerova. 2004. “Diasporas and Economic Development: State of Knowledge.” World Bank, Washington. September.

Freund, Caroline, and Nikola Spatafora. 2005. "Remittances: Costs, Determinants, and Informality." World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 3704. Washington, DC.

Ratha, Dilip, and Jan Riedberg. 2005. "On Reducing Remittance Costs." Unpublished paper. Development Research Group, World Bank, Washington, DC.

Books

Event audio and presentations

Presentations:

"Outlook for Remittance Flows to Developing Countries" presented by Dilip Ratha at the International Conference on Diaspora and Development, World Bank on July 13, 2009.
"Impact of Financial Crisis on Migration and Remittances in Sub-Saharan Africa" presented by Dilip Ratha at the World Bank on April 28, 2009.
"The Importance of the Remittances by the African Diaspora and its problems," presented by Sonia Plaza at the Conference of Rectors, Vice Chancellors and Principals of African Universities, Tripoli, Libya, October 21-25, 2007.
"Regional Mechanisms for Supporting R&D in Developing Countries," presented by Sonia Plaza at the Global Forum of Building Science, Technology, and Innovation Capacity for Sustainable Growth and Poverty Reduction, Washington D.C. February 13-15, 2007.
"Increasing the macroeconomic impact of remittances on development," presented by Dilip Ratha at the G-8 Outreach Meeting on Remittances, Berlin, November 28-30, 2007.
"Economic Implications of Remittances and Migration," presented at the Global Consumer Money Transfer Conference, London, October 30, 2006.
"South-South Migration and Remittances," presented at the UN High Level Dialogue on Migration and Development, September 14-15, 2006. Global Economic Prospects 2006 Launch, video presentation by Francois Bourguignon, Hans Timmer, Dilip Ratha and William Shaw, November 21, 2005.
"Remittances: Development Impact and Future Prospects," video presentation by Dilip Ratha and Samuel Maimbo, June 30, 2005.

Event audio:

Migration, Remittances and Development - Distinguished Speaker Series at the Lowy Institute, Sydney, July 16, 2008.

Global Remittances - An interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on July 15, 2008.

Global Remittance Trends - A conference call on July 11, 2008

A Panel Discussion on The Role of Migration in Globalization and Launch of the Migration and Remittances Factbook 2008. March 19, 2008, World Bank, Washington D.C.

Part I: Introduction. Uri Dadush, Director, Development Prospects Group and International Trade Department, World Bank

Part II: Panel discussion. Jason DeParle (New York Times), Demetrios Papademetriou (Migration Policy Institute), Dilip Ratha (World Bank)