Beyond Small Change: Making Migrant Remittances Count

Even though remittances account for billions of dollars annually and are now critical to the survival of the families of millions of migrant workers and to the health of many national economies, little has been done to use this channel to provide the poor with more financial options to benefit their families and local communities. Drawing on survey evidence, case studies, and cross-country and cross-region comparisons, Beyond Small Change examines the phenomenon in hopes of contributing to international understanding of remittances, promoting better policies and practices in this area, and turning migrant workers’ hard-won resources into a source of development for their homelands. Although the book emphasizes Latin America and the Caribbean, chapters also examine Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, making the book’s policy recommendations applicable around the world.