Remittance Inflow and the Sustainability of Selected Sub-Saharan African Countries During Covid-19 Pandemic

The global remittance inflow is contrasted by 20 and 14 percent in 2020 and 2021 respectively due to the adverse effect of the Covid-19 outbreak. The drop in the remittance inflow is expected to have a drastic consequence on the sustainability of some African countries. Recent studies conducted to assess how the Covid-19 pandemic affects the rate of remittance inflow in developing economies of the world have not only yielded conflicting results but inconclusive outcomes and policy implications. The few available studies failed to sufficiently pay attention to African economies as major recipients of remittances, hence, the need for this study. The study is premised on the labour migration theory which states that migration arises as a result of the labour market's failure (disequilibrium) which necessitates the migration of labour to regions where their skills are in high demand and better rewarded. Findings from the study reveal that remittance inflow helps to minimise and mitigate how selected sub-Saharan African economies respond to the negative consequences of the Covid-19 outbreak thereby promoting their sustainability. However, measures should be established to guard against unforeseen future pandemics in order to avoid unnecessary exposure to external shocks.