This paper investigates the impact of remittance inflows on
economic growth and poverty reduction for seven African countries using
annual data from 1992-2010. By using the depth of hunger as a proxy for
poverty in a Simultaneous Equation Model (SEM), we find that remittances
have statistically significant growth enhancing and poverty reducing
impact. Drawing on our estimates, we conclude that financial development
level significantly increases the remittances inflows and strengthens
poverty alleviating impact of remittances. Results of our study further
show a signficant interactive imapct of remittances and finacial
develpment on economic growth, suggesting the substitutability between
remittance inflows and financial development. We further find that 3
percentage point increase in credit provision to the private sector
(financial development) can help eliminate the severe depth of hunger in
the region. Remittances, serving an alternative source of private
credit, can be effective in this regard. Keywords: Remittance Inflow,
Poverty Alleviation, Financial Development, Simultaneous Equation
Model