What determines the choice of transfer channel for migrant remittances? The case of Moldova

Melissa Siegel and Matthias Lücke ()

No 1515, Kiel Working Papers from Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel)

Abstract: We estimate a multinomial logit model to explain the choice of transfer channel (formal services vs. informal operators or personal transfers) by 1139 pairs of migrants and recipients of remittances in Moldova in 2006. Explanatory variables include socioeconomic characteristics of the migrant and other household members, the pattern of migration (destination country, legal status, duration) and financial information (average amount and frequency of payments). Key reasons not to use a formal transfer channel include an emphasis on low transfer cost (rather than speed, convenience, or security), a migrant’s irregular legal status in the host country, and short migration spells.

Keywords: Migration; remittances; Moldova; transfer channel; money transfer operator; financial sector development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: F22 F24 O16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:zbw:ifwkwp:1515

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