Min Zar Ni Lin

Bounyang Sithinarongsy

Maniyom Dokdouangnaly

Remittance Behavior among Migrants Working in Thailand: A comparison between

Lao Migrants and Mon Migrants

Savalith Sengsad

Bandith Keothongkhan

Migrants’ Remittance flows to developing countries – ( from US$ 116 billion in 2002 to US$ 335 billion in 2008 (Ratha & Mohaoaatra, 2009).

Two million of Myanmar people are working in Thailand (IOM,

2008)

500,000 documented Myanmar migrants (IRIN News, 2009)

181,614 documented Lao Migrants (TDRI Quaterly Review, 2006)

80,000 undocumented Lao migrants (Huguet and Punuing, 2005)

What is the factors influence on the migrant’s

remittance behavior?

To investigate the socio-economic characteristics of Mon Migrants and Laos migrants, in Thailand, their migration patterns and the characteristics of their family.

To indentify the factors that influence the remittance behavior on Mon Migrants and Laos Migrants, in Thailand.

  To study the mode of money transfer (both informal and

formal channel)

Self-Interest

Remittance Behavior

Altruism Loan repayment

Co-insurance

Altruism - Concern / supporting the family

those who left behind in the home country due to the altruistic feeling.

Self-interest - migrant sent money

for investment purpose at home

country.

Loan Repayment - Repaying human

capital investment or the cost of migration.

Co-insurance - Agreement between migrant and family

left behind (when the household's income decrease or shock

occur.

H1: Migrant’s income have a positive relationship

to the motivation to remit

H2: Number of phone calls have a positive

relationship to the motivation to remit

H3: After the first three years, length of stay in the

Thailand have a negative relationship to the motivation to

remit

H4: School-age children in home country have a positive

relationship to the motivation to remit

H5: Migrant’s education have a positive

relationship to the motivation to remit

H6: Cost of migration have a positive

relationship to the motivation to remit

H7: Income of the household in origin country have a

positive relationship to the motivation to remit

H8: There is no positive relationship between the

document status and the motivation to remit

Mon Migrants from Myanmar Mahachai, Samut Sakhon, Thailand Phang Nga Province, Thailand. Laos Migrants Nakornpathom Province, Thailand

Both analytical and descriptive approach

No strong secondary data in both countries

Undocumented Migrants

Time limitation