Migration, Remittances, and Gender in the Context of Development: The Case of Thailand

Keiko Osaki, United Nations

In developing countries, migration often generates flows of resources from migrants to their households of origin. This paper investigates factors affecting migrants' remittance behavior. Using the data from the 1992 National Migration Survey (NMS) of Thailand, it examines 1) the migrant's propensity to remit, and 2) the volume of remittances made per migrant. The study focuses on individual as well as household socio-economic and demographic characteristics as potential determinants of migrant remittance behavior. The analyses reveal that, in Thailand, making remittances to parents is a common behavior among migrant children. Female migrants make significant contributions to their origin households by sending remittances. Poor economic status of origin households is also an important explanatory variable for the out-migration of its members and their remittance behavior. The study confirms that remittances made by out-migrants are crucial resources for many households to overcome capital constraints or to ensure their survival.