"It's Not Just about the Economy, Stupid": Social Remittances Revisited
This short paper explains the concept of social remittances, defined as the exchange of "ideas, know-how, practice and skills" between immigrants and their home country communities. Using examples drawn from the experience of Dominican immigrants in Boston, the authors explain that social remittances can have both positive and negative impacts. The paper concludes with the observation that "migration research needs to span migrants' origin and destination countries and go beyond economic considerations to include the social and cultural." (Summary by Nick Montalto)
Levitt, P. and Lamba-Nieves, D. (2010). "It's Not Just About the Economy, Stupid": Social Remittances Revisited. Washington, D.C.: Migration Policy Institute.