I n d i a P o s t . c o m - Social Remittances - Spreading American values one immigrant at a time

I n d i a P o s t . c o m - Social Remittances - Spreading American values one immigrant at a time: "Social Remittances - Spreading American values one immigrant at a time Sunday, 09.09.2007, 10:58pm (GMT-7) Often, discussions about immigration's effect center on the economic costs and benefits, do immigrants boost our economy or take jobs from the native-born? The billions of dollars they send back each year to their home communities are either hailed as the next development panacea or criticized by people who think they should remain here. But it's not just money that flows between the US and immigrants' homelands. Migrants also send social remittances, the new ideas, behaviors, and even identities acquired in the US. When we talk about immigration, social remittances are a key part of the equation because they help alleviate poverty, spread democracy, and improve America's relations around the world. Sometimes social remittances change trivial things, like the way people dress or what they eat. But they often have a more far-reaching impact."