Gender differences in remittances behavior among migrants in Thailand

Abstract

A range of studies has investigated the relationship between gender and remittances sending patterns. However, research on the topic in the context of migration flow from Cambodia, Lao PDR and Myanmar to Thailand is rare. This limits our understanding of remittances behavior of migrants in this sub-region. To fill the research gap, this paper examines the relationship between gender and patterns of remittances sending among migrants from three neighbouring countries who work in Thailand. The analysis was based on the secondary data set from the research project “Migrants’ remittances: Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Myanmar,” conducted in 2009. The total study sample was 356 migrants from the three nationalities. Generalized ordered logistic regression models were employed to explain the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. Study results indicate that, while female migrants have lower monthly income, they remit more frequently and in a higher amount than males. A possible explanation is related to cultural obligations and altruism versus self-interest, which lead to an intrinsic motivation of female migrants to save money for remittances.