We study the relationship between migration and children’s education in Tajikistan – one of
the poorest and most remittance-dependent economies in the world. The analysis of a unique
three-wave household panel survey reveals that emigration of family members is negatively
associated with children’s school attendance. Receiving remittances does not offset this
negative effect. Migration of non-parent family members (such as siblings) is particularly
detrimental to school attendance, especially among older children and children from less
educated households. This supports a conjecture that emigration in Tajikistan has a negative
signaling effect on the education of children staying behind.