Remittance volatility and financial sector development in sub-Saharan African countries

Pieter Opperman and Charles Adjasi

Journal of Policy Modeling, 2019, vol. 41, issue 2, 336-351

Abstract: In this study we examine the relationship between remittances, remittance volatility and financial sector development in sub-Saharan Africa using a two-step system GMM estimator over the period 2002–2014. Separately focussing on banking sector- and stock market development, our study distinguishes between the effect of remittances and remittance volatility on financial sector depth and financial sector efficiency. The results indicate remittances act as a substitute for the formal banking system in sub-Saharan African countries. We further provide evidence that remittance volatility is detrimental to both banking sector depth and efficiency. No evidence is found that remittance volatility is related to stock market development. A policy implication from our study is that sub-Saharan African countries should have measures in place to monitor the predictability of remittances while the cost of remittance transfer needs to be investigated.

Keywords: Remittance volatility; Financial development; Panel data (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C23 F24 O16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jpolmo:v:41:y:2019:i:2:p:336-351

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpolmod.2018.11.001

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