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This paper examines the importance of remittances from international migrants to those who stay behind. The paper looks in particular at the Zimbabwean case, & argues that while money sent from the 'other side' has a beneficial effect on close kin, remittances can also undermine the purchasing power of those households without migrating members. This is in part a result of asset price inflation, & in part due to the inflationary effects of parallel currency markets. The situation for those excluded from benefiting from foreign currency inputs is aggravated by chronic scarcity in the availability of consumables. The paper argues that further research is required to understand the costs, as well as the benefits, of money sent home by migrants, in terms of assessing the class & social agency of different groups of remittance senders & receivers. The paper suggests that one non-economic, but significant effect, of remittance-underwritten parallel markets might be an undermining of inclusive governance & democratic state accountability in the long-run. 46 References. [Copyright 2003 John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.]