A new migration pessimism argues that the economic benefits of international labour migration for migrant households may not justify the social costs. This article provides a test of this argument based on the author's survey of 304 households in Jerez municipio (municipality), Zacatecas, Mexico, in 2009. The results indicate that active households (those with at least one migrant abroad) perceived their economic situation to have improved more, but both their social cohesion and their happiness to be less than those of non-active households. Social cohesion (family unity and maintenance of values) is shown to be pivotal in the happiness differential enjoyed by the non-active households. © 2014 Society for Latin American Studies. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Migration International labour migration Migration pessimism Happiness Mexico Well-being

international migration labor migration Mexico [North America] quality of life immigration household survey