REMITTANCES FROM SOUTH AFRICA : ARE THE CONDITIONS OF DEPARTURE DETERMINING ?

This paper looks at the determinants of international remittances in the context of South-South migration. We use a 2006 survey on 639 African migrants living in Johannesburg. In addition to the traditional variables (income, age and education of the migrant, etc.) we consider the impact of departure conditions from the country of origin and subjective variables (perception of relative wealth, attachment to the country of origin) on remittances. The results show that having left the country of origin due to violence has a negative effect on the propensity to remit, whereas the attachment to the country of origin and the perception of a better economic situation in the host country positively influence remittances.