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Does migration make rural households more productive? Evidence from Mexico

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  • Taylor, J. Edward
  • López-Feldman, Alejandro

Abstract

The migration of labor out of rural areas and the flow of remittances from migrants torural households is an increasingly important feature of less developed countries. Thispaper explores ways in which migration influences incomes and productivity of land andhuman capital in rural households over time, using new household survey data fromMexico. Our findings suggest that a massive increase in migration to the United Statesincreased per-capita incomes via remittances and also by raising land productivity inmigrant-sending households. They do not support the pessimistic view that migrationdiscourages production in migrant-sending economies, nor the view implicit in separableagricultural household models that migration and remittances influence householdincomes but not production.

Suggested Citation

  • Taylor, J. Edward & López-Feldman, Alejandro, 2007. "Does migration make rural households more productive? Evidence from Mexico," ESA Working Papers 289042, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Agricultural Development Economics Division (ESA).
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:faoaes:289042
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.289042
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Community/Rural/Urban Development;

    JEL classification:

    • O15 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Economic Development: Human Resources; Human Development; Income Distribution; Migration
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products

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