International migration and schooling as alternative means of social mobility: The case of Mexico

Abstract

Using a simultaneous equation system between migration, remittances and two schooling variables, this papers analyses the effect the migration experience have on school attendance and years of schooling of youngsters between 11 and 19 years of age in the Mexican rural sector. The equations control for the effect the public conditioned transfers program Oportunidades may have on schooling, and the results suggest migration exposure at the home and the community level have negative incidence on schooling variables, despite the increase in income it causes.