Uneven recovery: a case study of factors affecting remittance-receiving in Tacloban, Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan

ABSTRACT

Over the last 15 years, a growing literature has suggested that remittances are important for post-disaster recovery in many developing countries. Yet, limited research has explored the complex relationships between remittance senders and receivers during and after disasters. The focus is on remittance-receiving households in Tacloban City in the Philippines after Typhoon Haiyan. This study identifies five main factors that affect the ability of households to turn their links with migrants into remittances after disasters. These factors are (1) the households’ socio-economic class, (2) the household’s relation with the migrant, (3) the migrant’s occupation and the country they are living or working in, (4) intra-family dynamics, and (5) cultural norms. This analysis provides further evidence to illustrate that, even in the context of remitting after disasters, the power-dynamics of transnational migrant relationships are often highly complex with economic, societal and cultural factors at play.

KEYWORDS:

• Remittances
• migration
• Philippines
• post-disaster recovery
• transnational migrant relationships

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Notes

1. OFW organizations are composed of the OFWs and their family members. The organizations recognize that having family members abroad can be difficult for those left behind, so the group provides emotional support as well as opportunities for skills training and entrepreneurship.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded and supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada [grant number 767-2012-0808] and the International Development Research Centre [grant number 108066-031].

Notes on contributors

Yvonne Su

Dr. Yvonne Su is an Assistant Professor in Interdisciplinary Refugee and Diaspora Studies in the Department of Equity Studies at York University.

Loïc Le Dé

Dr. Loic Le De is a Lecturer in Emergency and Disaster Management at the Auckland University of Technology.