The Role of Remittances in Economic Growth and Environmental Sustainability: A Cross-country Analysis

Although remittances significantly influence economic stability, their role in sustainable growth and environmental impact remains uncertain. While these financial inflows enhance household welfare, their effects on gross domestic product (GDP), carbon emissions, and trade openness require further...

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Main Authors: Bishnu B. Khatri, Omkar Poudel, Pradeep Acharya
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Environmental Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University 2025-05-01
Series:Applied Environmental Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ph01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/ecticit/article/view/216323https:/ph01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/aer/article/view/259225
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author Bishnu B. Khatri
Omkar Poudel
Pradeep Acharya
author_facet Bishnu B. Khatri
Omkar Poudel
Pradeep Acharya
author_sort Bishnu B. Khatri
collection DOAJ
description Although remittances significantly influence economic stability, their role in sustainable growth and environmental impact remains uncertain. While these financial inflows enhance household welfare, their effects on gross domestic product (GDP), carbon emissions, and trade openness require further exploration. This study investigates the economic and environmental linkages of remittances in India, Mexico, China, the Philippines, and Pakistan, the top five remittance-receiving countries. Using panel data analysis, this study employs Dumitrescu Hurlin causality tests and dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) to assess the long-term and causal relationships between urbanization, trade openness, GDP per capita, carbon emissions, and remittances. Data from the World Bank for the five largest remittance-receiving countries are used to ensure robust empirical analysis. The findings indicate that remittances do not directly drive GDP or emissions but that urbanization and trade openness significantly shape economic and environmental outcomes. This study supports the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis and confirms that carbon emissions influence remittance flows, which aligns with the environmental migration hypothesis. This study highlights the importance of remittance-backed investments in renewable energy, green infrastructure, and financial inclusion programs. Policymakers should create incentives for migrants to channel remittances into productive sectors rather than pure consumption. Trade openness has emerged as a key driver of emissions, necessitating sustainable trade policies that integrate environmental regulations. The study underscores the need for targeted policies that enhance the productive use of remittances while mitigating environmental risk.
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spelling doaj-art-b2a15d230cf04dd7b0df7fc6d6a536972025-08-20T03:26:48ZengEnvironmental Research Institute, Chulalongkorn UniversityApplied Environmental Research2287-075X2025-05-0147210.35762/AER.2025012The Role of Remittances in Economic Growth and Environmental Sustainability: A Cross-country AnalysisBishnu B. Khatri0Omkar Poudel1Pradeep Acharya2Central Department of Rural Development, Tribhuvan University (TU), NepalBirendra Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, NepalTribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal Although remittances significantly influence economic stability, their role in sustainable growth and environmental impact remains uncertain. While these financial inflows enhance household welfare, their effects on gross domestic product (GDP), carbon emissions, and trade openness require further exploration. This study investigates the economic and environmental linkages of remittances in India, Mexico, China, the Philippines, and Pakistan, the top five remittance-receiving countries. Using panel data analysis, this study employs Dumitrescu Hurlin causality tests and dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) to assess the long-term and causal relationships between urbanization, trade openness, GDP per capita, carbon emissions, and remittances. Data from the World Bank for the five largest remittance-receiving countries are used to ensure robust empirical analysis. The findings indicate that remittances do not directly drive GDP or emissions but that urbanization and trade openness significantly shape economic and environmental outcomes. This study supports the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis and confirms that carbon emissions influence remittance flows, which aligns with the environmental migration hypothesis. This study highlights the importance of remittance-backed investments in renewable energy, green infrastructure, and financial inclusion programs. Policymakers should create incentives for migrants to channel remittances into productive sectors rather than pure consumption. Trade openness has emerged as a key driver of emissions, necessitating sustainable trade policies that integrate environmental regulations. The study underscores the need for targeted policies that enhance the productive use of remittances while mitigating environmental risk. https://ph01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/ecticit/article/view/216323https:/ph01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/aer/article/view/259225RemittancesGDP per capitaCarbon emissionEnvironmental Kuznets curveTrade opennessUrbanization
spellingShingle Bishnu B. Khatri
Omkar Poudel
Pradeep Acharya
The Role of Remittances in Economic Growth and Environmental Sustainability: A Cross-country Analysis
Applied Environmental Research
Remittances
GDP per capita
Carbon emission
Environmental Kuznets curve
Trade openness
Urbanization
title The Role of Remittances in Economic Growth and Environmental Sustainability: A Cross-country Analysis
title_full The Role of Remittances in Economic Growth and Environmental Sustainability: A Cross-country Analysis
title_fullStr The Role of Remittances in Economic Growth and Environmental Sustainability: A Cross-country Analysis
title_full_unstemmed The Role of Remittances in Economic Growth and Environmental Sustainability: A Cross-country Analysis
title_short The Role of Remittances in Economic Growth and Environmental Sustainability: A Cross-country Analysis
title_sort role of remittances in economic growth and environmental sustainability a cross country analysis
topic Remittances
GDP per capita
Carbon emission
Environmental Kuznets curve
Trade openness
Urbanization
url https://ph01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/ecticit/article/view/216323https:/ph01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/aer/article/view/259225
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