Are foreign aid and migrant remittances sources of happiness in recipient countries?. (1st January 2011)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Arvin, B. Mak; Lew, Byron
• Is Part Of: International journal of public policy. Volume 7:Number 4/5/6(2011)
• Page Start: 282
• Page End: 300
• Publication Date: 2011-01-01
• Subjects: happiness -- foreign aid flows -- migrant remittance flows -- interaction between aid and remittances; Political planning -- Periodicals; Public administration -- Periodicals; 351.05
• DOI: 10.1504/IJPP.2011.043557
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1740-0600

Abstract

There is a dearth of research on how foreign aid and migrant remittances influence the level of happiness in recipient countries. This paper fills this void by presenting an empirical model where aid and remittances enter the happiness production function of a recipient country. We find that both aid and remittances are possible ingredients in the complex process of generating happiness and that their interactions, which have been ignored by previous studies in development economics, cannot be dismissed. A clear policy implication of our results is that remittances should be encouraged.