Abstract

MENDOZA COTA, Jorge Eduardo. Determinantes macroeconómicos regionales de la migración mexicana. Migr. Inter [online]. 2006, vol.3, n.4, pp.118-145. ISSN 2594-0279.

Based on data on the economic and social characteristics of Mexico's states, this article estimates the macroeconomic determinants of Mexican migration to the United states. A generalized least-squares model is applied to a cross-sectional regional database. The results show a positive coefficient for the U.S. GDP/Mexican state-level GDP ratio in relation to the growth of migration. This corroborates the existence of regional factors driving migration. The state-level per-capita GDP showed a positive coefficient, which suggests that the poorest states experience the greatest incentives for migration. Additionally, the rates of state unemployment and the pool of permanent migrants living in the United States have a positive effect. This underscores the importance of social networks for reducing the costs of migrating. The variables for economic opening were inconclusive, although foreign direct investment was positive with respect to the growth of migration.

Keywords : international migration; macroeconomics; regional economics; labor mobility; Mexico.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )