1. Contribution of Household Surveys to Measuring Remittances
14-15 January 2008
US Census Bureau
Neil Fantom
Development Data Group, World Bank
Roadmap
First, illustrate some problems with remittance data and reporting frameworks
Then, describe some ongoing work through the international working group on remittance data

2. Why are we meeting?
Pressing need for better data on remittances from users, particular in context of development

3. Receipts by developing countries: remittances vs net aid flows
Background
Workers remittances an important source of finance for developing countries, particularly the poorest (top 10 recipients 2003: India ($17.4 bn), Mexico ($14.6 bn), Philippines ($7.9 bn), China ($4.6 bn), Pakistan ($4.0 bn), Bangladesh ($3.2 bn)
Large and increasing, greater than official aid flows (all net official aid to low and middle income countries)
G8 Heads of State, G7 and APEC Finance Ministers: need to improve remittance data
Source: 2005 World Development Indicators database, World Bank

4. World Bank estimates of remittance inflows to developing countries
Assessment of quality of remittance data: quick review
Balance of payments statistics is framework for countries to report aggregate data: this presentation focuses on that aspect
There are gaps in data reported to IMF. Chart shows total inflows of compensation of employees, workers’ remittances and migrants’ transfers added from balance of payments, compared with WB estimates, where gaps have been estimated and some estimates supplemented with data from other official sources
Gap may not illustrate extent of problem: even where figures are reported in bop, there may be quality problems

5. Why are we meeting?
Pressing need for better data on remittances from users, particular in context of development
International Working Group on Improving Remittances Data identified need for better guidance on household surveys

6. International Working Group
Request of G8 Heads of State and G7 Finance Ministers (2004)
International meeting in Jan 2005
Importance relates to development policy, need for:
better estimates of aggregate and bilateral flows from BOP (Luxembourg Group)
better household survey data (not just in BOP)
Background
Workers remittances an important source of finance for developing countries, particularly the poorest (top 10 recipients 2003: India ($17.4 bn), Mexico ($14.6 bn), Philippines ($7.9 bn), China ($4.6 bn), Pakistan ($4.0 bn), Bangladesh ($3.2 bn)
Large and increasing, greater than official aid flows (all net official aid to low and middle income countries)
G8 Heads of State, G7 and APEC Finance Ministers: need to improve remittance data
G7 requested working group, led by World Bank, with IMF and UNSD

7. Why are we meeting?
Pressing need for better data on remittances from users, particular in context of development
International Working Group on Improving Remittances Data identified need for better guidance on household surveys
Issues identified in context of Conference of European Statisticians and Migration Statistics meeting in Edinburgh 2006 (Werner)

8. Some of the fundamental problems
What is a remittance?
Questions about remittances may not get accurate responses (it is about income)
Difficult to obtain representative samples of migrants where probabilities of selection are known – “rare” and often difficult to find population
Survey capacity is relatively weak in developing countries
And remittances may not be a priority issue in surveys in developed countries
Good practice material is not readily available

9. Meeting Objectives
Is there agreement that the primary objective is related to remittances? (but it is not forbidden to talk about migration)
Review recent initiatives aimed at measuring (migration and) remittances in household surveys, in both sending and receiving countries
Review key conceptual and methodological issues related to the measurement of (migration and) remittances in household surveys
Agree on a plan for addressing key methodological issues, and for developing best practices in the design and use of (migration and) remittances household surveys

10. Possible meeting outputs
Meeting “proceedings” can be collated and published - what format would be appropriate?
Are there gaps in knowledge which need further work?
What other existing material can be collated and made accessible to others
How can that be done?
What medium would be appropriate for that (UN, International Household Survey Network (IHSN))?
If further work is needed, how can that be taken forward? Is there a need to convene a working group?