Do remittances cause Dutch Disease? A meta-analytic review

This is the first meta-study to analyze the effect size of remittances on the real exchange rate (RER). Using 426 estimates from 67 studies, we found that remittances appreciate RER; however, the effect size differs across countries. Compared to global estimates, the mean effect of remittances on RER is significantly larger for East Asia and the Pacific, whereas the same nexus is found to be significantly smaller for Latin America and the Caribbean. Furthermore, the synthesized effect of remittances on RER is found to be significantly positive for lower-middle-income countries. Our empirical examination shows that publication selection bias is less likely in the literature. We found a genuine effect of remittances on RER appreciation. This study also provides policy recommendations and presents suggestions for future research in the field.