Abstract
In this paper, I assess the relevance of migration for the mitigation of global inequalities by focusing on the remittances of free labor migrants. I consider this the most direct and least authoritarian form of distribution. Furthermore, remittances of migrants are ethically valuable: migrants send money they earned through hard work and personal initiative to their families and friends. Although remittances do not totally replace aid, distribution through remittances is ethically preferable to dysfunctional forms of aid or authoritative reallocation. Although remittances imply almost zero public transactions costs, the transaction costs for the individuals who are sending the money are rather high. Reducing these transaction costs through specially targeted subsidies and/or regulation would be an efficient way of enhancing redistribution flows to developing countries.
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Cheneval, F. (2013). Migration and Global Inequalities. In: Merle, JC. (eds) Spheres of Global Justice. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5998-5_24
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