World Development
Volume 59, 2014, Pages 535-552

Mexican migrants to the US: What do unrealized migration intentions tell us about gender inequalities? (Article)

Chort I.*
  • a PSL, Université Paris-Dauphine, LEDa, Paris, France

Abstract

This paper exploits unrealized intentions to migrate to highlight mobility constraints. I analyze the discrepancies between Mexicans' intention to migrate and their subsequent migration behavior using the two waves of the Mexican Family Life Survey panel (2002 and 2005-06). I first provide evidence that intentions contain behavioral information. Controlling for various shocks likely to affect the migration decision, I find that women's probability to carry out their migration plans is systematically lower than men's. Different interpretations are investigated, but empirical evidence suggests that women's unrealized migration plans are due to female-specific costs and constraints. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd.

Author Keywords

Gender inequalities Shocks Intentions Migration Mexico

Index Keywords

Mexico [North America] mobility immigrant gender issue United States womens status migration
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84897573495&doi=10.1016%2fj.worlddev.2014.01.036&partnerID=40&md5=2768e9d7c9ed67fccc610379e77878a6
DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.01.036
ISSN: 0305750X
Cited by: 8
Original Language: English