Migradollars and development: A reconsideration of the Mexican case

Jorge Durand, Emilio A. Parrado, Douglas S. Massey

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

277 Scopus citations

Abstract

Economic arguments, quantitative data, and ethnographic case studies are presented to counter popular misconceptions about international labor migration and its economic consequences in Mexico. The prevailing view is that Mexico-U.S. migration discourages autonomous economic growth within Mexico, at both the local and national levels, and that it promotes economic dependency. However, results estimated from a multiplier model suggest that the inflow of migradollars stimulates economic activity, both directly and indirectly, and that it leads to significandy higher levels of employment, investment, and income within specific communities and the nation as a whole. The annual arrival of around $2 billion migradollars generates economic activity that accounts for 10 percent of Mexico's output and 3 percent of its Gross Domestic Product.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)423-444
Number of pages22
JournalInternational Migration Review
Volume30
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1996

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Demography
  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)

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