Paper short abstract:

Global remittances flow bidirectionally, Global north to south and vice versa. Literature often spotlights the south's reliance, neglecting the crucial role of southern remittances in bolstering the north's economy. This paper emphasizes the two-way remittances, providing a broader perspective

Paper long abstract:

An extensive body of research on international migration highlights international remittances. Some have compared the volumes of remittances accrued from migrants in the global north to FDIs and official development aid. Whilst this epos is profoundly revealing, there are several instances of remittance from global south countries to global north countries. This daily occurrence is rarely conceptualized as a major source of income or livelihood for recipients, and a source of income for global north countries. Questions such as: To what extent are international migrant students’ daily livelihood shaped by remittances from their home countries? What volume of remittance income from global south becomes available to the global north receiving countries? have remained rarely explored. Bearing in mind these questions, the paper shows how dependence of remittances from families and other sources in global south sending regions is a normal part of the daily lives of international migrants whose livelihood depends on it. By focusing on students’ migrants in the UK, one of the most common features of international migration from the global south to the global north, this paper will contribute to our understanding of remittances associated with international migration.