International labor migration as a strategy of economic stabilization at the household level in Mexico and Central America

• Autores: Germán A. Zárate Hoyos
• Localización: Papeles de población, ISSN 2448-7147, ISSN-e 1405-7425, Vol. 14, Nº. 56, 2008
• Idioma: inglés
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Migración laboral internacional como estrategia de estabilización económica en hogares de México y América Central
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo
• Resumen
  • español

    Este trabajo mira la migración internacional y las remesas como estrategia de estabilización económica. Examina la estabilidad de estos flujos a nivel macro y cuestiona la estabilidad de los flujos reales en estadísticas oficiales. Hay aun controversia entre académicos, banqueros, y organizaciones multilaterales acerca del verdadero volumen de estos flujos. México es un buen estudio de caso pues es el receptor de remesas más grande en América Latina y tiene uno de los mejores métodos de contabilidad. Aun así, quedan preguntas acerca de los flujos oficiales y la falta de una clara metodología de captura para las remesas colectivas e incluso remesas sociales. Es importante también entender que la falla de las políticas neoliberales para influir en el desarrollo económico sostenido y generación de empleos es en cambio, una causa del incremento en la migración y en consecuencia el incremento de las remesas. La relación entre migración y las políticas neoliberales debe ser examinado detenidamente antes de mirar a las remesas como panacea del desarrollo.

  • English

    This paper looks at international migration and remittances as a strategy of economic stabilization. It examines the stability of these flows at the macro level and questions the stability and the actual flows in the official statistics. Controversy still exists between academics, bank officials and multilateral organizations about the true size of these flows. Mexico is a good case study because it is the largest recipients of remittances in Latin America and it has one of the best accounting methods. Yet, questions remain about official flows and the lack of a clear methodology for capturing collective remittances and even social remittances. It is also important to understand that the failure of neo-liberal policies to spur sustained economic growth and employment is in turn a cause of increased migration and consequently increased remittances. The relationship between migration and neo-liberal policies must be closely examined before turning to remittances as a panacea for development.

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