Remittances: Costs versus Benefits
Once again, I suggest that rather than "shoot from the hip" and use your own views, biases, and personal experiences to draw from, educate yourself on the issue. It is a complicated issue with many variables involved - economic, social, and historical. Below is a link to a well-balanced article that outlines BOTH pros and cons to remittances. There is a bibliography at the end that will direct you to further reading. Eugenia Georges, a professor at Rice University, and a colleague, wrote a very good book called "The Making of a Transnational Community" based on her research on the impact of remittances on communities in the Cibao, Cordillera Central, Dominican Republic. This is also worth reading. P.S., Jim H., it is not yet available online electronically, so the book format is the way to go. Businesses are started with remittance money and these businesses do employ other Dominicans. And, yes, much money is used for basic living expenses. Also, money is also used to further educate Dominicans at schools and universities. If you really want to learn about this issue you have to work a little - this means spending some time reading and researching. If you just want to complain and feud, then don't read anything, don't research anything, and ultimately....don't learn anything either.
