Remittances and The Socio-Economic Developments in the Smaller Cities

Abstract

This research paper aims to report the socio-economic development in the remittance dominated smaller cities in the Gujranwala Division of the Punjab. With the highest number of workers working in foreign countries, the Gujranwala Division receives the bulk share of the remittances in Punjab. With these remittances, the lifestyle and economic habits have experienced significant changes, and many smaller cities have started emerging in last two decades. Generally, the bulk of economic literature and policy prescriptions focuses on the large size cities and rich vs poor debates. However, we need to look deeper in the economic changes that has happened in these smaller cities and the rise of a new non-agricultural non-industrial middle class. This study identifies the economic transformation in education, health, lifestyle and living conditions in the smaller cities of the Gujranwala Division. This study used the data of Census 2017 and a field survey to measure and report the economic changes, new business prospects and lifestyle changes in the last two decades which are being reshaped in the context of huge remittance received in these smaller cities. The outcome of this research is in the shape of economic profiles of these smaller cities that can help the policy makers to design and implement the relevant schemes for socio-economic development, businesses, taxation, investments and infrastructure.