Political Remittances on the Rise During Pandemic? Evidence From Survey Data on Overseas Filipino Workers

Migrant workers are exposed to different governance conditions and economic, political and social institutions in their host countries (i.e. destination of work). There is growing evidence that these may also influence migrants (and their families' and communities') political behavior and choices. Under these conditions, migrants' perceptions of satisfaction with home country public services could be formed relative to their experience of public services in their host countries. There is a growing strand in the migration literature that considers these acts of transmitting political principles and expectations of governance practices as part of "political remittances". This study examines survey data on 248 Philippine migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to answer the question: Are overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) perceptions of Philippines' pandemic management influenced by their host countries' pandemic management response? Utilizing ordered logistic regression on survey responses of OFWs during the pandemic period spanning November 1 to December 7, 2020, this study finds evidence indicating that more successful pandemic management in the host country may trigger responses demanding improved pandemic management in the Philippines.