Migration, Remittances and Moral Hazard. Evidence from the Kayes Area (Western Mali)

This article uses recent survey data from the Kayes area (Western Mali) to estimate the effect of migration and remittances on the technical efficiency of agricultural households. A theoretical model is developed, which shows that the more insurance is provided by the migrants, the less incentive their families have to work. A production function using panel data with household-specific fixed effects is estimated to test this hypothesis. The probability of being financially supported by migrants is found to significantly contribute to technical inefficiency. This result should help agricultural policy makers formulate more efficient development strategies in the area.