Comments on: Will global crisis hurt remittances to Africa?

By: Reversing the Brain Drain : The Whitaker Group

Reversing the Brain Drain : The Whitaker Group — Fri, 08 May 2009 13:15:07 +0000

[...] number of reasons. One problem is a pervasive belief that remittances (which amounted to nearly $40 billion for Africa in 2008) are more valuable than [...]

By: Susan Mohler

Susan Mohler — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 22:15:13 +0000

It is said that if you give a man a fish you feed him for a day…teach him to fish and you have enabled him to be productive his whole life. Dess wrote that sending small amounts keeps relative dependent on the handout whereas if you could financially “back” those you are helping you would enable them for their lives and future generation. I concur.
Susan Mohler
Groton, MA

By: MICROCAPITAL STORY: Remittances and Microfinance in 2008

MICROCAPITAL STORY: Remittances and Microfinance in 2008 — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 21:14:45 +0000

[...] Nicaragua, Nepal, Guatemala and El Salvador are all in the 10-20% range. Jack Kimball of Reuters points out that “remittance cash may be as much as 50 percent higher than current estimates due to [...]

By: alazar dessie

alazar dessie — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:57:27 +0000

it seems that the ‘economics of affection’ continues at all times, recession or expansion periods. africans in the west somehow feel that they msut help kins at home even at their own expense. not providing for relatives at home is perceived as a failure on ones part. what i cannot understand is why those in the diaspora continue to send small amount of money at intervals rather than a somewhat larger amount at one or two times and empower e relatives back home to build something, business, which can generate income on ongoing basis. if they had done that, they would not fall prey to the vagaries of capitalist system.

By: Shama Sambili

Shama Sambili — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:53:27 +0000

A slow down in remittances from abroad is expected. As a matter of fact this has already been witnessed in some parts of Africa. According to the Central Bank of Kenya, remittances from abroad dropped 37% in September. The impact of this will undoubtedly affect our economies negatively.

By: Nduka Tolefe

Nduka Tolefe — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 07:45:43 +0000

Of cause it would affect remitances, job loses in the West would affect the ability of African expatriates to remit funds.

By: igal mohamed ali

igal mohamed ali — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 06:06:38 +0000

yes the global crisis affects alot to africa’s economy as in my country Uganda its the main foreign income earning in the counrty and there was a seriouse slow down to the volume of remittance,in my business i serve over 500 custormers a day who recieve money from abroad and most of them are student, illetrate women and old peopple.some receive from friends,close or far family just to have a loaf too.ugandans in abroad sacrifice alot for their fellows at home but if this continues am afraid many will not be studying,many will not be getting the £5 pound they use to get per week.

By: buffalojump

buffalojump — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 03:18:31 +0000

Of course it will, if those remittances come from the west. But as I’ve read in other blogs, Africans should be happy because they don’t like the west and what it stands for.

Secondly, African’s will be better off in the long run because of the new benefits which China brings. I know I will not be sending remittances anymore.

By: rrubinprodigy

rrubinprodigy — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:28:32 +0000

I will assume it will since Mexico’s remittances is down 12%.