Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

More than Altruism: Cultural Norms and Remittances Among Hispanics in the USA

  • Published:
Journal of International Migration and Integration Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Cultural norms embody the communalism and familism that characterize social structures and traditions of care among certain identity groups, notably, Hispanics. In turn, they affect remitting behavior as they do family dynamics thereby extending care transnationally. Using the 2006 Latino National Survey, the largest instrument that captures socioeconomic variables and political perspectives among Hispanics residing in the USA, we constructed a Hispanic identity index that is used to capture the role of cultural norms in remittance behavior. This index is used as an explanatory variable in a logit model for the probability and frequency of remitting money. We find that both the probability and frequency of remitting increase with higher levels of self-defined familism as reflected by the Hispanic index. This effect is stronger among males, renters, foreign-born non-US citizens, and migrants with fewer years of residence in the USA. Incorporating variables such as our Hispanic identity index may shed light on a relatively unexplored area in the field of economics that explains remitting behavior.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. According to the US Census, Hispanics or Latinos are those people, of any race, who classified themselves in one of the specific Spanish, Hispanic, or Latino categories listed on the Census 2010 questionnaire or who indicated that they are of “another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin.” We acknowledge the difficulties with this identity definition, but nonetheless, we use the category to refer to persons of Spanish or Hispanic cultural background.

  2. It may generate contradictory feelings of excessive burden and sacrifice due to financial or time commitments to support or care for family that may undermine one’s own well-being.

  3. A town of approximately 30,000 residents (one third is of Hispanic background).

  4. The 2006 LNS is one of the largest, most representative data sets of Hispanics. It is a telephone-based survey that sampled 11 million Hispanic households residing in areas with 87.5 % of the Hispanic population in the USA. For a more detailed description of the data, please access the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research, LNS 2006 Description and LNS, Executive Summary (http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/icpsrweb/ICPSR/).

  5. While familism has been strongly associated with Hispanic cultures, Schwartz (2007) found familism evidence in similar forms across many ethnic groups.

  6. The term refers to a situation characterized by any of the following: a. Economies rely excessively on the influx of foreign exchange from the work of migrants abroad; b. Individuals of working age decide not to join the labor force in recipient countries due to rents received from relatives abroad; and c. Remittances may originate on “illegal” activities (“laundering”).

  7. Respondents self-identify as Latino/as or Hispanic.

  8. We and the LNS use Hispanics and Latino/as interchangeably.

  9. Description of the data is found at the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research, LNS 2006 Description and LNS, Executive Summary (http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/icpsrweb/ICPSR/).

  10. STATA randomly chose Iowa as the baseline state. However, compared to AZ, CO, NM, and TX, Iowa has a small, but increasing, percentage of Hispanics (under 6 % according to the Pew Hispanic Center).

References

  • Acosta, P., Calderón, C., Fajnzylber, P., & López, H. (2008). What is the impact of international remittances on poverty and inequality in Latin America? World Development, 36, 89–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen, V. C., Jr., Lachance, C., Rios-Ellis, B., & Kaphingst, K. A. (2011). Issues in the assessment of “race” among Latinos: implications for research and policy. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 33, 41–424.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Amuedo-Dorantes, C., & Pozo, S. (2006). Remittances as insurance: evidence from Mexican immigrants. Journal of Population Economics, 19(2), 227–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anzoategui, D., Demirguc-Kunt A., & Martínez Pería, M. S. (2011). Remittances and financial inclusion. Evidence from El Salvador. Policy research working paper 5839, The World Bank Development Research Group. Also at http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/IW3P/IB/2011/10/06/000158349_20111006135759/Rendered/PDF/WPS5839.pdf.

  • Aranda, M. P., Ray, L. A., Snih, S. A., Ottenbacher, K. J., & Markides, K. S. (2011). The protective effect of neighbourhood composition on increasing frailty among older Mexican Americans: a barrio advantage? Journal of Aging & Health, 23, 1189–1217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker, S. S. (2002). Understanding mainland Puerto Rican poverty. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bengtson, V. L., & Mangen, D. J. (1988). Family intergenerational solidarity revisited: suggestions for future management. In D. J. Mangen & K. Y. McChesney (Eds.), Measurement of intergenerational relations (pp. 222–238). Newbury Park: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bermúdez, J. M., Kirkpatrick, D., Hecker, L., & Torres-Robles, C. (2010). Describing Latinos families and their help-seeking attitudes: challenging the family therapy literature. Contemporary Family Therapy: An International Journal, 32, 155–172.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bettin, G., Lucchetti, R., & Zazzaro, A. (2009). Income, consumption and remittances: evidence from immigrants to Australia. EconPapers. doi:10.2139/ssrn.1498325. no. 34, Money and Finance Research group, University Politecnica Marche. Also at http://ssrn.com/abstract=1498325.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beyene, Y., Becker, G., & Mayen, N. (2002). Perception of aging and sense of well-being among Latino elderly. Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 17, 155–172.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blue, S. A. (2004). State policy, economics crisis, gender and family ties: determinants of family remittances to Cuba. Economic Geography, 80(1), 63–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bollard, A., McKenzie, D., & Morten, M. (2010). The remitting patterns of African migrants in the OECD. Journal of African Economies, 19(5), 605–634.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boswell, C. (2008). Combining economics and sociology in migration theory. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 34, 549–566.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boswell, C., & Mueser, P. R. (2008). Introduction: economics and interdisciplinary approaches in migration research. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 34, 519–529.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brewer, L. (2001). Gender socialization and the cultural construction of elder caregivers. Journal of Aging Studies, 15, 217–235.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burr, J. A., & Mutchler, J. E. (2003). English language skills, ethnic concentration, and household composition: older Mexican immigrants. Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences & Social Sciences, 58B, S83–S92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calderón-Tena, C. O., & Knight, G. P. (2011). The socialization of prosocial behavioural tendencies among Mexican American adolescents: the role of familism values. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 17(1), 98–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Castles, S., & Miller, M. J. (2009). The age of migration. London: Palgrave MacMillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J. H. (2010). Oaxacan migration and remittances as they relate to Mexican migration patterns. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 36, 149–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cruz-Saco, M. A. (2010). Intergenerational solidarity. In M. A. Cruz-Saco & S. Zelenev (Eds.), Intergenerational solidarity. Strengthening economic and social ties (pp. 9–34). New York: Palgrave MacMillan.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Cruz-Saco, M. A., & López-Anuarbe, M. (2013). Familism and social inclusion: Hispanics in New London, Connecticut. Social Inclusion, 1(2), 113–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dennis, J., Basañez, T., & Farahmand, A. (2009). Intergenerational conflicts among Latinos in early adulthood: separating values conflicts with parents from acculturation conflicts. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 32, 118–135.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Desmond, M., & López Turley, R. N. (2009). The role of familism in explaining the Hispanic-white college application gap. Social Problems, 56(2), 311–334.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donato, K. M., Gabaccia, D., Holdaway, J., Manalansan, M., & Pessar, P. R. (2006). A glass half full? Gender in migration studies. International Migration Review, 40(1), 3–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Donato, K. M., Hiskey, J., Durand, J., & Massey, D. S. (2010). Migration in the Americas: Mexico and Latin America in comparative context. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 630(1), 6–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Economist Intelligence Unit. (2008). Building a future back home. leveraging migrant worker remittances for development in Asia. The Economist, sponsored by Western Union (pp 1–30).

  • Ellis, M., & Almgren, G. (2009). Local contexts of immigrant and second-generation integration in the United States. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 35, 1059–1076.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Epstein, G. S. (2008). Herd and network effects in migration decision-making. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 34, 567–583.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ermisch, J. F. (2003). An economic analysis of the family. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fajnzylber, P. & López, J. H. (2007). Close to home. The development impact of remittances in Latin America, The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank, (pp 1–73).

  • García-Fuentes, P. A. & Kennedy, P. L. (2009). Remittances and economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean: the impact of human capital development. Presented at the Southern Agricultural Economics Association Annual Meeting, Atlanta, Georgia.

  • Göbel, K. (2013). Remittances, expenditure patterns, and gender: parametric and semiparametric evidence from Ecuador. IZA Journal of Migration, 2(1), 1–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • González, H. M., Vega, W. A., & Tarraf, W. (2010). The health care quality perceptions among foreign-born Latinos and the importance of speaking the same language. Journal of the American Board of Medicine, 23, 745–752.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haug, S. (2008). Migration networks and migration decision-making. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 34, 585–605.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hilton, J. M., Gonzalez, C. A., Saleh, M., Maitoza, R., & Anngela-Cole, L. (2012). Perceptions of successful aging among older Latinos in cross-cultural context. Journal of Cross Cultural Gerontology, 27, 183–199.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoddinott, J. (1994). A model of migration and remittances applied to Western Kenya. Oxford Economic Papers, 46(3), 459–476.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holst, E., Schafer, A., & Schrooten, M. (2012). Remittance and gender: theoretical consideration and empirical evidence. Feminist Economics, 18(2), 201–229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hondagneu-Sotelo, P. (1994). Gendered transitions. Mexican experiences of immigration. Berkeley: University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • INSTRAW. (2007). Feminization of migration. 2007. Working Paper 1. http://www.google.com.pe/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CBsQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wunrn.com%2Fnews%2F2009%2F05_09%2F05_18_09%2F051809_feminization_files%2FFeminization%2520of%2520Migration-INSTRAW.pdf&ei=GI-1U_T-FKK8igKnzYBA&usg=AFQjCNGvTNvA-T-0NTkuZLbKjZ-srSrQIA&sig2=7QEqxDq7lxzsHdBWPuZw9w&bvm=bv.70138588,d.cGE. Accessed Jul 2014.

  • International Organization for Migration (IOM). (2010). The role of migrant care workers in ageing societies: report on research findings in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States. Geneva: IOM.

    Google Scholar 

  • International Organization for Migration (IOM). (2011). Gender, migration and remittances. http://www.iom.int/jahia/webdav/site/myjahiasite/shared/shared/mainsite/published_docs/brochures_and_info_sheets/Gender-migration-remittances-infosheet.pdf. Accessed Jan 2014.

  • International Organization for Migration (IOM). (2013). World migration report 2013. Migrant wellbeing and development. Geneva: IOM. Also at http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CDAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpublications.iom.int%2Fbookstore%2Ffree%2FWMR2013_EN.pdf&ei=yJNAU-nyCbKqsQSawIHQBg&usg=AFQjCNH6eiYGG5I2_pcqLKEt_ujyyIHWeg&sig2=aWODAFWkGq7dj5l7gFColA&bvm=bv.64125504,d.cWc. Accessed on Apr 5 2014.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karakaplan, M. U., Naufal, G.S., Vega-Silva, C. (2011). Gender, migration, remittances and household expenditures in Nicaragua. http://econweb.tamu.edu/karakaplan/Karakaplan%20-%20Migration.pdf. Accessed Jan 2014.

  • Ketkar, S., & Ratha, D. (2009). New paths to funding. Finance and Development, 46, 43–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lindley, A. (2009). The early-morning phonecall: remittances from a refugee diaspora perspective. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 35(8), 1315–1372.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • López-Anuarbe, M. (2013). Intergenerational transfers in long term care. Review of Economics of the Household, 11(2), 235–258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lozano-Ascencio, F. (2005). “Remittance behavior among Latin American immigrants in the United States.” (pp. 18–23). Tours: International Population Conference.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maimbo, S. M. & Ratha, D. (eds). (2005). Remittances. Development impact and future prospects, Washington DC International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank pp (1–378).

  • Mangen, D. J., Bengtson, V. L., & Landry, P. H., Jr. (Eds.). (1988). Measurement of intergenerational relations. Newbury Park: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mundaca, G. (2009). Remittances, financial markets development and economic growth: the case of Latin America and Caribbean. Review of Development Economics, 13, 288–303.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naufal, G. (2008). Why remit? The case of Nicaragua. Institute for the study of labor (IZA). Discussion Paper no, 3276, 1–44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oboler, S. (1995). Ethnic labels, Latino lives. Identity and the politics of (re) presentation in the United States. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orozco, M. (2012). Future trends in remittances to Latin America and the Caribbean. Inter-American dialogue report, http://www.thedialogue.org/PublicationFiles/IAD8642_Remittance_0424enFINAL.pdf. Accessed Jan 2014.

  • Orozco, M., Lowell, B. L., & Schneider, J. (2006). Gender specific determinants of remittances: differences in structure and motivation. Mimeo: Georgetown University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Osaki, K. (1999). Economic interactions of migrants and their households of origin: are women more reliable supporters? Asian and Pacific Migration Journal, 8(4), 447–471.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pessar, P. (2006). A glass half full? Gender in migration studies. International Migration Review, 40(1), 3–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pfeiffer, L., Richter, S., Fletcher, P., & Taylor, E. (2008). Gender in economic research on international migration and its impacts: a critical review. In Andrew R. Morrison, Maurice Schiff and Mirja Sjöblom, (eds) The international migration of women (pp. 11–49). The World Bank: Palgrave Macmillan.

  • Portes, A., Fernández-Kelly, P., & Haller, W. (2009). The adaptation of the immigrant second generation in America: a theoretical overview and recent evidence. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 35, 1077–1104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quinn, M. (2005). Remittances, savings, and relative rates of return. The Journal of Developing Areas, 38(2), 1–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Radina, E. M., & Barber, C. E. (2004). Utilization of formal support services among Hispanic Americans caring for aging parents. Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 43, 5–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Radu, D. (2008). Social interactions in economic models of migration: a review and appraisal. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 34, 531–548.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramírez, M. D. & Sharma, H. (2008). Remittances and growth in Latin America: a panel unit root and panel cointegration analysis. Yale Economics Department Working Paper No. 51.

  • Ramírez, C., García Domínguez M., & Míguez Morais, J. (2005). Crossing Borders: remittances, Gender and Development. UN-INSTRAW Working Paper.

  • Rapoport, H., & Docquier, F. (2006). The economics of migrant’s remittances. In S. C. Kolm & J. M. Ythier (Eds.), Handbook of the economics of giving, altruism and reciprocity (pp. 1135–1198). New York: Elsevier Science.

    Google Scholar 

  • Realo, A., Allik, J., & Greenfield, B. (2008). Radius of trust: social capital in relation to familism and institutional collectivism. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 39(4), 447–462.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rivera, F., Guarnaccia, P., Mulvaney-Day, N., Lin, J. Y., Torres, M., & Alegría, M. (2008). Family cohesion and its relationship to psychological distress among Latino groups. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 30, 357–378.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruiz, M. E., & Ransford, H. E. (2012). Latino elders reframing familismo: implications for health and caregiving support. Journal of Cultural Diversity, 19, 50–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sabogal, F., Marin, G., Otero-Sabogal, R., & Marin, B. V. (1987). Latino familism and acculturation: what changes and what doesn’t? Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 9(4), 397–412.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sana, M. (2008). Growth of migrant remittances from the United States to Mexico, 1990–2004. Social Forces, 86, 995–1025.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, S. J. (2007). The applicability of familism to diverse ethnic groups: a preliminary study. Journal of Social Psychology, 147(2), 101–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stark, O., & Lucas, R. (1988). Migration, remittances, and the family. Economic Development and Cultural Change, 36(3), 465–481.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, G., Wangaruro, J., & Papadopoulos, I. (2012). It is my turn to give: migrants’ perceptions of gift exchange and the maintenance of transnational identity. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 38(7), 1085–1100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United Nations. (2009). International migration report 2006: a global assessment. United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division.

  • United Nations Development Program. (2009). Human development report. Overcoming barriers: human mobility and development, at http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2009/chapters/UN.

  • United States 2010 Census at http://www.census.gov/2010census/

  • World Bank. (2006). Global economic prospects. Economic implications of remittances and migration (pp. 1–157). World Bank: Washington DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank. (2011). Migration and remittances factbook, 2011, at http://econ.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTDEC/EXTDECPROSPECTS/0,,contentMDK:21352016~pagePK:64165401~piPK:64165026~theSitePK:476883,00.html.

  • World Bank. (2013). Migration and remittances data, at http://econ.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTDEC/EXTDECPROSPECTS/0,,contentMDK:22759429~pagePK:64165401~piPK:64165026~theSitePK:476883,00.htm.

  • World Bank. (2014), Migration and remittances Brief 20.

  • Yang, D. (2006). Why do migrants return to poor countries? Evidence from Philippine migrants’ responses to exchange rate shocks. Review of Economics and Statistics, 88(4), 715–735.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, D. (2008). International migration, remittances, and household investment: evidence from Philippine migrants’ exchange rate shocks. Economic Journal, 118(528), 591–630.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang, D. (2011). Migrant remittances. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 25(3), 1–24.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Prof. Evelyn Hu-Dehart (Brown University) and Prof. Ron Flores (Connecticut College) who provided us with access to the LNS 2006 survey. We also thank travel and research grants from Connecticut College that allowed us to present earlier versions of this paper at conferences that, in turn, provided opportunities to receive useful feedback. Finally, we thank comments and suggestions from two anonymous reviewers.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Connecticut College, 270 Mohegan Ave, New London, CT, 06320, USA

    Mónika López-Anuarbe, Maria Amparo Cruz-Saco & Yongjin Park

Authors
  1. Mónika López-Anuarbe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Maria Amparo Cruz-Saco
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yongjin Park
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maria Amparo Cruz-Saco.

Appendices

Appendix 1: Hispanic index frequency distribution and correlation coefficient matrix

Hispanic index = Hispanic identity + distinct culture + speak Spanish

Key Variables:

Hispanic identity (LAIDENT)

[In general,] how strongly or not do you think of yourself as Hispanic or Latino?

0 = Not at all

1 = Not very strongly

2 = Somewhat strongly

3 = Very strongly

Distinct Culture (DISTINCT)

[In general,] how important is it for you and your family to maintain your distinct cultures?

0 = Not at all

1 = Not very important

2 = Somewhat important

3 = Very important

Speak Spanish at home (KEEPSPAN)

[In general], how important do you think it is for you or your family to maintain the ability to speak Spanish at home?

0 = Not at all important

1 = Not very important

2 = Somewhat important

3 = Very important

 

Keep Spanish

Latino identity

Distinct culture

Freq.

Percent

Freq.

Percent

Freq.

Percent

Not at all important (0)

58

1.02

179

3.14

  

Not very important (1)

109

1.91

331

5.8

157

2.75

Somewhat important (2)

668

11.71

1416

24.83

968

16.97

Very important (3)

4868

85.36

3777

66.23

4578

80.27

Total

5703

100

5703

100

5703

100

Index

Freq.

Percent

1

3

0.05

2

8

0.14

3

21

0.37

4

52

0.91

5

136

2.38

6

357

6.26

7

720

12.62

8

1436

25.18

9

2970

52.08

Total

5703

100.00

Correlation coefficient matrix

 

Keep Spanish

Hispanic identity

Distinct culture

Keep Spanish

1

  

Hispanic identity

0.176

1

 

Distinct culture

0.239

0.162

1

Appendix 2: A utility maximization analytical framework

A utility maximization model is used to determine a migrant’s optimal level of remittances (R*). Controlling for personal characteristics (vector Z), their utility or satisfaction level (U M) not only depends on his or her own consumption (X) and leisure levels (N) but also on the utility level of their family abroad (U F).

  1. (1)

    U M = U M [X M, N, U F, Z]

    Likewise, the family’s utility function (U F) depends on their own consumption levels, which increase when they receive remittances from their migrant relative. Remittances are endogenously determined and depend on the Hispanic migrant’s socioeconomic and personal characteristics, such as age, gender, income level, marital status, and familism (F H). We theoretically and empirically construct a Hispanic identity index that links and relates familism to cultural identity, specifically, identifying as a Hispanic, Latino/a, or from their country of origin in the USA (H), believing it is important to maintain a Hispanic culture in the USA (C), and believing that it is important to speak Spanish at home (S)

  2. (2)

    F H = F H(H, C, S)

    When solving to find an optimal level of remittances, R*, we find that a migrant’s optimal level of remittances, R*, depends on the relative importance that familism plays in her utility, δU M/δF H, the share size of her family utility compared to her own utility (γ), her propensity to remit (φ), her income level (M), and relative importance of her propensity to remit, which is directly impacted by how U F can positively affect U M. Likewise, her R* is negatively impacted by the migrant’s propensity to consume (α), the cost of her consumption basket (p, a proxy for inflation), and the cost of remittances (1 + c).

  3. (3)

    R*(F H, U F, α, γ, φ, p, c) = M[δU M/δF H]U F(γφ)/(αp + γφ)(1 + c)

Appendix 3: Remittance amount histogram

(Natural log of the values of sent remittances).

figure a

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

López-Anuarbe, M., Cruz-Saco, M.A. & Park, Y. More than Altruism: Cultural Norms and Remittances Among Hispanics in the USA. Int. Migration & Integration 17, 539–567 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-015-0423-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-015-0423-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation