Final Remarks

Abstract

Abstract This chapter summarizes the book’s key argument and findings. It also discusses the normative and policy implications of the book, focusing on the implications of remittance inflows for long-term political and economic development. The core message of the book is that the politics of recipient countries are increasingly dependent on wealthier, migrant host states. This re-enforces structural global inequalities and helps entrench a new form of political dependency. Although remittances may benefit recipients and migrant-sending economies, at least from a developmental perspective, they may also, at times, compromise the demand for accountable government in the developing world. Remittances could also serve to dampen migrant-sending countries’ autonomy. This argument is contrary to the one reached by many studies that view remittances as a panacea for development.