What Explains Remittance Fees? Panel Evidence

37 Pages Posted: 25 Apr 2022

See all articles by Thorsten Beck

Thorsten Beck

Florence School of Banking and Finance

Mathilde Janfils

Independent

Kangni Kpodar

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Date Written: April 1, 2022

Abstract

This paper uses data across 365 corridors to document time and country variation in remittance fees and explore factors predicting variation in remittance fees. We document a general reduction in such fees over the past decade although the goal of fees below 3 percent has not been met yet in many corridors. We identify both cost- and risk-based constraints and market structure as barriers to lower remittance fees. Higher transaction costs as result of a more rural population in the sending country and lower scale are associated with higher remittance fees. However, lower risks due to the stability of fixed exchange rates and Internet rather than cash payment are associated with lower remittance fees. Finally, remittance corridors dominated by banks and few players are characterized by higher fees.

Keywords: Remittances, migration, access to financial services, remittance fee, remittance cost, remittance corridor, A. remittance, panel evidence, Exchange rate arrangements, Capital controls, Plurilateral trade, Global

JEL Classification: F24, F31, J10, F21, F13

Suggested Citation

Beck, Thorsten and Janfils, Mathilde and Kpodar, Kangni, What Explains Remittance Fees? Panel Evidence (April 1, 2022). IMF Working Paper No. 2022/063, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4092613

Thorsten Beck (Contact Author)

Florence School of Banking and Finance ( email )

Florence
Italy

Mathilde Janfils

Independent ( email )

Kangni Kpodar

International Monetary Fund (IMF) ( email )

700 19th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20431
United States

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