Who Remits More? Who Remits Less? Evidence from Kosovar Migrants in Germany and Their Households of Origin

Abstract

The prevalence of subsistence-oriented farming and the scarcity of non-farm employment make migration a common livelihood strategy in rural Kosovo. Consequently, many households rely heavily on remittances. Although migrants themselves often struggle to finance their everyday lives in their host countries, remittances continue to flow. As almost all migrants remit, it is required that the level of remittances be monitored and the factors determining the absolute amount of remittances to the home country be known. There are three overarching determinants: the connection between the migrant and the household of origin, the need for financial support of the household of origin and the financial means of the migrant. This contribution draws on an original, detailed and very recent database collected using an innovative survey design. It provides significant insights into the country- and culture-specific driving forces behind remittances from Germany to Kosovo.