On average, every family bases 15% of its spending on money that arrives from abroad. In the first six months of this year, there was a 12% increase from last year's transfers, which is seen as a positive result of the recovery of the global economy.
Statistically, every person in Serbia receives a 13th salary, however, not from their employers but from family members living abroad, the Serbian Radio-Television (RTS) has said, quoting information from the World Bank.
Every Serbian receives an average of 400 euros from abroad annually, which, the RTS says, "makes the Serbian expatriate community one of the most generous in the world."
As much as two-thirds of the money comes from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and France, officially, via bank transfers, and it is estimated that at least half the amount arrives in the country unofficially, with money being given directly by one person to another.
Around 27 billion euros has arrived in Serbia in bank transfers since 2001.
Unlike Romania or Albania, where such money is used to open small and medium businesses, in Serbia that money is rarely invested, according to people interviewed by the RTS.
World Bank expert Lazar Sestovic said the money was mostly used for daily purchases and to pay for utilities.